- Joined
- Jul 22, 2009
- Messages
- 546
- Points
- 0
THEY work in groups of four, with at least one of them carrying a gun, patrolling housing estates to make sure all is safe and sound.
Auxiliary police officers (APOs) and security officers are now a common sight where foreign workers live or congregate. Drawn from security firms Certis Cisco and Aetos, these officers have a specific job - to make sure that no one disturbs the peace.
Their presence was a move spearheaded by the Ministerial Steering Committee (MSC) formed last year to deal with issues arising from the growing population of foreign workers in Singapore.
While such workers are vital in Singapore's construction, manufacturing and now service industries, their growing numbers have caused unhappiness among some Singaporeans.
Last year, there were 660,000 foreign workers in Singapore, compared with 577,000 in 2007 and 420,000 in 2005. The figures do not include foreign domestic workers.
The Ministry of Manpower, whose minister chairs the MSC, declined to reveal where and how many more areas APOs have been sent to since the first batch in Little India last February.
Auxiliary police officers (APOs) and security officers are now a common sight where foreign workers live or congregate. Drawn from security firms Certis Cisco and Aetos, these officers have a specific job - to make sure that no one disturbs the peace.
Their presence was a move spearheaded by the Ministerial Steering Committee (MSC) formed last year to deal with issues arising from the growing population of foreign workers in Singapore.
While such workers are vital in Singapore's construction, manufacturing and now service industries, their growing numbers have caused unhappiness among some Singaporeans.
Last year, there were 660,000 foreign workers in Singapore, compared with 577,000 in 2007 and 420,000 in 2005. The figures do not include foreign domestic workers.
The Ministry of Manpower, whose minister chairs the MSC, declined to reveal where and how many more areas APOs have been sent to since the first batch in Little India last February.
