Union launches app for security officers to report abuse, work grievances

SINGAPORE: The Union of Security Employees (USE) has launched a mobile application for security officers to report abuse or work-related grievances.

This was announced along with the results of a survey on the welfare of private security officers, which found that more than one in two officers reported feeling nervous and stressed at work.

USE said that the free mobile app lets security officers report “any work-related issues and grievances anytime and anywhere”.

“While the survey showed that security officers generally know who or where to seek help from when they face abuse at work, more can be done to expedite the process and enable neutral, third-party bodies to help investigate and mediate the case at hand,” said a press release from USE and the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC).

According to USE, registered users of the app can key in details of the case or issue, including location and photos. The cases submitted via the app will be routed to the USE Mediation Service for follow-up. 

"Today, officers walk to the (mediation) centre to report a case or email, so this is added means for them to report a case," said Mr Steve Tan, USE executive secretary.

The mobile app was created in response to officers' feedback that it was difficult to send an email reporting abuse when they were on duty, said Mr Tan. The app also has geo-tagging, he said.

"You just need to report what happened: 'Someone scolded me' and click send, we already know where you are," he said. "I think it's added convenience."

Users can also check back on the status of their submissions via the app and be kept updated on industry and union-related news.

39% FACED ABUSE AT WORK

The third instalment of a longitudinal survey by USE and the Singapore University of Social Sciences found that the welfare of security officers “continue to be of concern”, particularly in the areas of mental well-being and abuse.

The survey was conducted from July to September, garnering responses from 1,000 security officers. The first and second waves of the survey were conducted from January to February and July to September in 2020.

Questions relating to work stress were included in the survey for the first time, and more than one in two officers reported feeling nervous and stressed at work.

Nearly 30 per cent said they were sometimes nervous or stressed at work, while 13 per cent reported being "fairly often or very often" nervous and stressed at work. About 7 per cent also said they were often overwhelmed with work.

"It is an issue that is getting national attention and we should really put some attention on it as well, especially if the officer gets abused verbally more frequently," said Mr Tan.

Similar to the first two surveys, a substantial proportion of officers (39 per cent) reported having faced abuse at work. 

This is slightly lower than the 42 per cent reported in the last survey, but higher than the 32 per cent in the first survey. The majority of abuse reported was verbal abuse.

The frequency of abuse has also risen, with almost 40 per cent - up from 30 per cent - of those who reported verbal abuse sharing that they experienced verbal abuse at least once every two weeks.

The survey also found that older officers suffered more abuse than younger officers. At least 40 per cent of security officers aged 50 and above reported facing abuse at work, while 26 per cent of those aged up to 29 years reported the same.

A breakdown by location also found that the share of abuse at commercial sites, such as malls and office buildings, has gone up to 51 per cent from about 46 per cent since the last survey. 

Meanwhile at residential sites, such as condominiums, the share decreased from about 51 per cent to about 31 per cent.  

Mr Tan said that the increase in abuse at commercial sites has risen as Singapore transits to living with COVID-19 and there may be more incidences of crowding and people not complying with safe management measures, which officers have to manage.

LARGE PROPORTION OF ABUSE FROM GENERAL PUBLIC

More than 40 per cent of the abuse perpetrators come from the general public.

“USE is concerned that security officers continue to be abused while doing their jobs as provided for under the law.

"We urge the general public to recognise the important work of our security officers as frontline warriors protecting property and lives, and cooperate with them when required,” said Mr Raymond Chin, USE general secretary.

The survey covered other aspects of security officers' work, such as their wages and work prospects.

USE said that wages remained steady in the sector, and met Progressive Wage Model benchmarks across all levels. 

More than six in 10 security officers surveyed said they are compensated fairly for their work and are expecting a median wage increase of about S$150 next year. More than eight in 10 said they were satisfied with the profession. 

The use of technology continues to remain high (about 90 per cent), and more than six in 10 have the intention to learn new skills in the next six months, according to the survey results.