SINGAPORE – Having been in the security industry for more than 10 years, Mr Ardi Amir has seen his fair share of security officers being physically and verbally abused by members of the public.

So when the opportunity arose for him to volunteer in a project that raises pre-schoolers’ awareness of the work of lower-wage workers, the 44-year-old business development manager in a security company jumped at the chance. 

He and his team organise sessions where, through videos and activities such as role play – props included – young children learn about a day in the life of a cleaner or security officer.

“The young ones don’t have any prejudice, so you can actually disseminate the idea of respecting the lower-wage workers, so that they won’t think later in life that lower-wage workers don’t deserve respect,” said Mr Ardi, who is also the president of the Union of Security Employees.

“I think what needs to be done is for them to be recognised as professionals. I think people or society still don’t see them as professionals and still see them in the background. We need to understand that what they’re doing is essential,” he said. 

The Experience Day project was one of nine projects showcased by the Alliance for Action for Lower-Wage Workers (AfA for LWW) on Saturday.

Volunteers presented updates on the progress of project ideas they had developed to help lower-wage earners in previous workshops.

Another project aims to help single mothers overcome barriers to long-term employment through job-matching that leverages a Telegram bot, and refining their resumes with the help of AI. Yet another project will see the development of an app that provides security guards with training and development opportunities to help them advance in their careers.

Saturday also marked the conclusion of the industry-led alliance, which was launched by Senior Minister of State for Manpower Zaqy Mohamad in March 2021 to mobilise volunteers to come up with solutions to help uplift lower-wage workers.

Over the past two years, the alliance successfully initiated 14 projects focused on fostering supportive work environments, encouraging societal support for progressive wages and increasing support for lower-wage workers to upskill. 

A total of 50 participants took part in the first run between March and August 2021, when eight different ground-up projects were formed.

On Saturday, Mr Zaqy noted that perceptions within the society must change for lower-wage workers to gain dignity. 

“It’s not just about the Government, unions and employers, but all of you here, as members of society who have the desire to accord lower-wage workers with the respect and dignity they deserve,” he said, in his closing remarks to 40 attendees who included volunteers and community members at the Lifelong Learning Institute.

“Moving forward, we should continue to change perceptions and encourage our society to respect all workers, regardless of pay or perceived status.”

He highlighted the significant progress made by the tripartite partners to enhance the skills and wages of lower-wage workers since the Progressive Wage Model was launched over a decade ago.

Up to nine in 10 full-time lower-wage workers benefit from the progressive wage moves, he added.

“In the past few years, we have seen many of their wages going up significantly because we have been able to negotiate with employers better salaries for them,” he said.

Mr Zaqy said that while AfA for LWW has officially come to an end, some of its projects will be further developed. This includes a partnership with building developers to create rest areas for lower-wage workers such as cleaners and security guards in malls.

Experience Day, too, will continue its work, with PCF Sparkletots looking at continuing the programme in another 300 of its centres, while another pre-school has also expressed interest, said Mr Ardi.