Good morning.

Today we gather to commemorate Security Officers Day. Held every year on 24th July to symbolise the fact that security functions 24/7, 7 days a week, 365 days a year; it is a day entirely dedicated to you.

On behalf of the Security Association Singapore, I want to begin by expressing our deepest and most profound gratitude to you, the men and women who serve the frontlines of the security landscape in Singapore. Sometimes your work may seem unappreciated, but today we see you, we recognise you, and we thank you.

This year, we are honouring a record number of 877 recipients across various categories. Including the prestigious apex Officer and Auxiliary Police Officer of the Year Awards, we will also recognise Outstanding Officers, Officers who excelled in Job Redesign, the SAS President's Medal of Professionalism, and a new category of Outstanding Executive Protection Officers to recognise an often overlooked corner of our industry, the brave men and women who help maintain safety and security of the public when involving the movement and activities of high profile individuals.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our co-organiser TP-SII, as well as our valued sponsors and supporting organisations for your support of the event this year. Without your valued support, this public platform to honour our officers simply would not have been possible.

Now, as we celebrate your achievements and recognise today's award recipients, I want to speak to you about the future of the profession. The security landscape continues to evolve, and as an association SAS is focused on three core pillars to ensure that your careers continue to grow in value, respect, and sustainability.

The first pillar is upskilling. We live in an era of rapid technological advancement, and growing demand for more complex and dynamic security skillsets. But underpinning all of this is the true strength of our industry, and that is the humans on the ground and in the background; you. To ensure that you remain at the forefront of these developments, I am proud to announce the coming launches of specialised courses for security officers.

LTA and Traffic Police conducted a joint review on expanding the scope of licensed security officers to perform more complex traffic management independently.

Following this review, security supervisors with the necessary competencies will be able to independently lead more complex traffic management. Currently, only APOs are able to lead such deployments.

To ensure that these security officers are equipped with the right knowledge, skills, and experience to perform these complex duties, an upskilling and training framework has been developed. Officers will be onboarded from August this year, in preparation for the rollout of this initiative in January 2027.

Security supervisors who are keen to upskill and take on more complex traffic management responsibilities may do so by completing the WSQ Advanced Crowd and Traffic Control module and fulfilling the mandatory On-The-Job Training hours.

This collaboration between the relevant authorities, Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs), and the private sector represents the whole industry's ongoing commitment to upskilling the security workforce and provide better opportunities for professional growth to for every officer.

Another collaborative effort between the Security Association Singapore and the Association of Company Emergency Response Teams (Singapore) (A-CERTS) has culminated in a series of Fire Safety programmes aimed at equipping security professionals with the knowledge, skills, and confidence required to respond effectively to fire emergencies. These programmes include a foundational one-day course and an advanced two-day course on Emergency Preparedness, and a specialised programme for Security Managers that is currently still in development and targeted for completion by Q4 2027.

So the future looks bright, as far as charting the way for upskilling is concerned. But we should also be proud of existing efforts to do the same. It is now the second year since the start of the enhanced training framework for security officers, where all SOs are expected to be able to operate basic security equipment, and SSOs and above must be able to manage security surveillance functions. The corresponding OBSE and PRSF courses have been in full swing, and most officers are already proficient in these functions. Even so, the industry as a whole has some ways to go towards having all the required officers proficient in these courses. I strongly encourage all officers who have yet to enrol to do so in these courses as soon as they are able, and for their employers to support them as needed.

These courses are not just about adding to your workload; they are about elevating your capabilities. By upskilling, we ensure that your hard work translates into higher value, better prospects, and greater professional confidence.

This brings me to the second pillar, which I find is absolutely non-negotiable: maintaining the respect and dignity of your work.

While you are equipping yourselves to better protect the public, so to must we ensure that you are protected. It is deeply troubling that we have seen recent, highly publicised cases of security officers being subjected to verbal and sometimes physical abuse. The SAS, as well as I'm sure all the industry partners here, take a zero-tolerance approach to your abuse. And we continue our close work with our brothers and sisters in the union and associations, and our friends in the police and the authorities to ensure that all perpetrators are brought to justice, no matter who they are or where they come from. You stand up for our safety, and we should all stand up for yours.

And now to the third pillar, where standing up for you also means a continuing focus to improve your working conditions. Respect for your profession must also be reflected in how the industry takes care of your welfare. We cannot expect you to work tirelessly if we don't also look out for your wellbeing.

In this regard, we have come a long way with the positive outcomes brought about by the Progressive Wage Model. Now into a decade of changes mandated by the PWM, security officers are increasingly becoming fairly compensated for their long hours of hard work. With salary increments locked in through 2028, officers can continue to expect growth in their careers, and more to bring home for them and their loved ones. And yet, we must also look to the future ahead of us.

To that end I am pleased to add to the recent announcement of increasing the minimum number of annual leave days for new hires above and beyond the current requirements of the Employment Act. This change is a result of active work among the tripartite partners to push for enhanced welfare standards. Starting from 2029, new hires to any security agency can look forward to higher numbers of starting annual leave. This number will be introduced progressively, with the finalised details to be announced later on by the tripartite partners. By providing better leave benefits and prioritising work-life balance, we are making a firm commitment to your long-term well being. We want to ensure that a career in our industry is not only respectable and fulfilling, but also entirely sustainable for you and your families.

As I look at the audience today I see only a small sample of dedication, professionalism, and resilience. Qualities that are shared by so many others outside of this auditorium as well, working hard to keep each and every one of us safe and secure.

To the award recipients both here and elsewhere: congratulations once again. You represent the very best that our industry has to offer. You have set a benchmark of excellence, and your hard work is an inspiration to us all.

And I hope you continue in this spirit long after the celebration today, to perform your duties with excellence and in keeping with the highest standards, deserving of the deepest gratitude.