MHA to recruit over 2,100 officers
The Home Team is looking to recruit over 2,100 officers to fulfil its manpower needs for new capabilities and expanded functions.
Singapore police (file)
SINGAPORE: The Home Team is looking to recruit over 2,100 officers to fulfil its manpower needs for new capabilities and expanded functions.
Of these, about 1,800 positions will be for Junior Officers and 300 positions for Senior Officers.
As mentioned in Parliament earlier this month, the Home Team is strengthening its capability to meet new and evolving security challenges.
The Singapore Police Force will be rolling out its new Community Policing Strategy (COPS) and will need more police officers at the Neighbourhood Police Centres.
While the Singapore Civil Defence Force is setting up their new marine fire-fighting and rescue capabilities to provide an integrated response for both land and sea emergencies in fire-fighting and shipboard rescue.
The Central Narcotics Bureau and Singapore Prison Service are stepping up their supervision and aftercare of drug offenders and inmates respectively. And the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority is enhancing the security of Singapore's borders at the various land, air and sea checkpoints.
To recruit and retain capable officers, the Home Team is introducing a series of changes to ensure that a career with the Home Team is kept meaningful and attractive.
The various changes are broadly grouped into competitive salaries, development opportunities and career advancement.
Starting salaries of Junior Officers have been increased by 5 per cent since February 1, 2012.
Diploma holders who have completed National Service can expect a starting salary of up to S$2,370, while those who did not serve NS will be paid up to S$2,140.
In addition, a sign-on bonus ranging from S$8,000 to S$10,000 has been introduced for Diploma Holders joining the uniformed services in the Home Team.
And from July 1, Junior Officers will move from a system of fixed annual increments to a system of merit-based increments.
With this move, Junior Officers can expect a 10 to 15 per cent increase in their pay.
The Ministry said this is to further strengthen the link between pay and performance.
Junior Officers who stay in service can expect to receive an enhanced retention payout that ranges from S$6,000 to S$10,000, from their third or fifth year of service.
On completion of 13 years' service, a uniformed officer can look forward to a total retention package of S$34,000 to S$50,000 under these revised retention payment schemes.
For the first time, the HOME Awards cum Degree Sponsorship Ceremony was held in conjunction with the Home Team Career Fair on Saturday.
Minister in Prime Minister's Office, Second Minister for Home Affairs & Trade and Industry, Mr S Iswaran presented 138 study awards Saturday morning at the presentation ceremony.
A total of 37 polytechnic students and 101 Home Team officers received the awards.
Mr Iswaran said: "The future holds exciting opportunities for our award recipients. For our student recipients, I can assure you that you are joining a very meaningful profession and committing yourself to a very important cause."
