Training of Full-time National Servicemen to Help Them Recognise Workplace Practices Inconsistent with Existing Doctrines
Ministry of Home AffairsSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Assoc Prof Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim’s inquiry on whether the Ministry of Home Affairs is reviewing training for full-time National Servicemen (NSFs) in the SPF and SCDF to help them recognize and challenge workplace practices inconsistent with existing doctrines. Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam responded that NSFs are taught core values and codes of conduct during basic training, including the necessity of reporting breaches of policies or procedures. He highlighted that well-established, confidential reporting channels exist for NSFs to raise concerns about malpractice or wrongdoing to supervisors, Unit Commanders, or senior leadership. These reports can be submitted in writing or in person and are investigated objectively and expeditiously to maintain workplace standards within the Home Team departments. NSFs are informed of these rights and channels during initial training and receive regular reminders through subsequent in-service programmes, management dialogues, and periodic internal communications.
Transcript
77 Assoc Prof Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether the Ministry is considering reviewing the training provided to full-time National Servicemen (NSF) in the SPF and SCDF to confirm that all these NSFs understand their rights and responsibilities with respect to recognising and challenging workplace practice that may be inconsistent with existing policies, procedures or doctrines.
Mr K Shanmugam: All Singapore Police Force (SPF) and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) full-time National Servicemen (NSFs) undergo basic training conducted by the Police Training Command or Civil Defence Academy before they are deployed for operational duties. During basic training, NSFs are taught their Home Team Department’s core values and code of conduct, which include the need to report practices that breach existing policies, procedures or doctrines.
NSFs and officers can confidentially report wrongful workplace practices through reporting channels which have been well-established in SPF and SCDF. They can raise issues related to breaches of policies, malpractice or wrongdoing in the workplace to their direct supervisor, Unit Commander or Director and even the senior leadership of their Home Team Department and the Ministry headquarters. This can be done in writing or in person. All reports are looked into objectively and expeditiously.
The NSFs and officers are informed of the reporting channels when they first join their Home Team Department, during their basic training. They are reminded during subsequent in-service training programmes and some dialogues and forums with management, as well as through periodic internal communications.