Data on Average Working Hours and Overtime Hours for Full-time Security Officers Working for Private Security Agencies
Ministry of ManpowerSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the working hours and overtime of full-time security officers in private security agencies, as raised by Ms Sylvia Lim. Minister for Manpower Dr Tan See Leng reported that in 2020, 79.4% of officers worked over 44 hours weekly, with a median of 60.0 hours. He highlighted that overtime exemptions were removed in January 2021 to cap monthly overtime at 72 hours, aiming to enhance officer well-being and alertness. To support this transition, the Security Progressive Wage Model increased base salaries by 12% in 2020 to mitigate the reduction in overtime pay. Although 30% of officers worked excessive overtime in 2020, this figure is expected to decline following the implementation of the new regulatory cap.
Transcript
43 Ms Sylvia Lim asked the Minister for Manpower (a) in 2020, what percentage of full-time security officers working for private security agencies worked overtime hours; (b) what were the average and median hours worked per officer per month; and (c) what was the highest number of hours worked per officer per month.
Dr Tan See Leng: In 2020, 79.4% of full-time security officers in private security agencies worked more than 44 hours per week, where overtime is payable under the Employment Act for eligible security officers. The mean and median hours worked per week were 56.4 hours (that is, 12.4 overtime hours) and 60.0 hours (that is, 16 overtime hours) respectively1.
Previously, before the implementation of the Progressive Wage Model (PWM) in the security sector, many private security agencies relied on overtime exemptions under the Employment Act, so that their security officers clocked more than 72 hours of overtime per month. In November 2017, the Government accepted recommendations from the Security Tripartite Cluster – comprising representatives from the unions, employers, service buyers and the Government – to remove Overtime Exemption for the security sector from January 2021. This meant that security agencies would only be able to deploy their security officers for a maximum of 72 overtime hours per month (or 16.6 overtime hours on average per week). This reduces excessive overtime hours worked by security officers, improves their well-being and avoids compromising their alertness.
In 2020, through the Security PWM, security officers saw an increase in their base salary by 12%, even though their total working hours are capped. This ensures that most would not be adversely affected due to a reduction in overtime hours. The three-year implementation lead time allowed security agencies, service buyers and security officers sufficient time to adjust.
In 2020, about 30% of security officers still worked more than 72 overtime hours per month2. With the implementation of the PWM recommendation to remove overtime exemptions in January 2021, this percentage is expected to decline further.