Sri Lankan candidates being recruited for Auxiliary Police Officers in Singapore

Singapore appears to be broadening its recruitment efforts by seeking Auxiliary Police Officers (APOs) from Sri Lanka, according to a recent announcement by the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Agency (SLFEA).

The specific recruitment event was held on 16-17 April at the SLFEA office in Nawala.

The SLFEA, a government-owned subsidiary of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment, in its poster, emphasized the benefits previously offered for these positions —  with only 200 vacancies.

These included salaries ranging from LKR 240,000 (S$1,080) to LKR 430,000 (S$1,940) for a standard 44-hour work week. Additional benefits highlighted were a two-month bonus after a two-year contract, free accommodation in Singapore, and paid airfare for travel between Sri Lanka and Singapore.

Succesful applications would need to pay pre-departure expenses of LKR 65,000 (around $300).

While the low pay has been a subject of discontent among many Sri Lankans commenting on the job offer, some have pointed out that the pay includes free lodging, which helps save a lot in an expensive city like Singapore.

Singapore's Home Affairs and Law Minister, Mr K Shanmugam, in a written response to a parliamentary question by Ms Sylvia Lim on 10 January, shared that the Ministry of Home Affairs is considering further expanding the jurisdictions from which it can recruit APOs, including potential candidates from China, India, the Philippines, and Myanmar, to address these recruitment challenges.

Elaborating on the reasons for seeking APOs from abroad, Mr Shanmugam cited the shrinking local workforce and the stringent physical fitness requirements as primary challenges, alongside the alternative job options available to Singaporeans.

Mr Shanmugam provided insights into the demographic makeup of the APFs as of November 2023, noting that Singaporean APOs constituted approximately 68% of the force, with the remainder being Malaysians and Taiwanese.

It has been reported in Taiwanese media that Taiwanese officers are typically given a starting salary of 85,000 TWD, which is approximately S$3,600.

He acknowledged the decline in Taiwanese APOs, whose numbers have decreased by more than 60% from 2017 to 2023, now numbering about 70.

"The deployment of Taiwanese APOs has generally been positive for the APFs. However, the demanding nature of public-facing security work, coupled with better job opportunities and personal factors like family commitments and homesickness, have made recruitment and retention challenging," Mr Shanmugam stated.

Gutzy Asia has written to the police for clarification on the matter and will provide an update if they respond.