Parliament
Josephine Teo: MHA recruited APOs from five additional countries amid manpower shortages
During the MHA budget debate on 4 March, Second Minister for Home Affairs Josephine Teo said the ministry expanded APO recruitment beyond Singapore, Malaysia, and Taiwan due to manpower shortages. As of December 2024, APOs from five newly added source countries—Sri Lanka, Myanmar, the Philippines, India, and China—make up 3% of the workforce. This 3% excludes APOs from Malaysia and Taiwan.
SINGAPORE – With declining birth rates, an ageing population, and a manpower shortage, Singapore’s Home Team is turning to technology and artificial intelligence (AI) to address these challenges.
Additionally, the Home Team will hire more foreigners to fill roles that Singaporeans may be less inclined to take up, according to Second Minister for Home Affairs Josephine Teo.
Speaking during the Ministry of Home Affairs’ (MHA) budget debate on 4 March, Teo highlighted that the Home Team faces increasing demands amid a complex threat landscape.
She noted that declining birth rates and intense competition for talent have made manpower constraints more pressing.
AI to enhance fire safety inspections and prison monitoring
Teo outlined several AI-driven initiatives to improve operational efficiency within the Home Team.
One such initiative is a targeted on-site inspection tool powered by AI, which will be used by the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) to assess the likelihood of fire safety violations in commercial and industrial premises.
This tool, which draws data from past inspection reports, will enable SCDF to conduct more targeted inspections. It is expected to be rolled out for field testing in the coming months.
In the prison system, a life signs monitoring system is being trialled to track inmates’ vital signs remotely.
This technology allows prison officers to respond quickly to incidents such as falls or abnormal heart rates, which is especially crucial given the growing number of elderly inmates.
Combating AI-enabled crime
Teo also addressed the rising use of AI by criminals, particularly in generating deepfakes and scam content.
Criminals are leveraging generative AI to produce fake content rapidly and at scale, complicating investigations.
To counter this, the Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX) has developed AlchemiX, a generative AI-powered algorithm capable of verifying the authenticity of audio and video recordings.
Additionally, in June 2024, HTX launched the Home Team AI Movement to accelerate the development and deployment of AI capabilities.
A governance framework has also been implemented to ensure AI projects comply with legal and ethical standards.
Addressing manpower shortages with foreign hires
Manpower constraints remain a significant challenge, particularly in SCDF’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS).
Demand for EMS has surged by nearly 30% over the past five years, yet local recruitment has not kept pace despite more competitive salaries.
Teo explained that EMS roles require specialised medical skills, which are in short supply locally.
Moreover, the physically demanding nature of EMS work may not appeal to all Singaporeans. To address this, SCDF will begin hiring foreign paramedics and emergency medical technicians from March.
The demand for security services has also risen, with Singapore’s Auxiliary Police Forces struggling to maintain an adequate number of auxiliary police officers (APOs).
In January 2024, Minister for Home Affairs K. Shanmugam stated in a parliamentary reply that the decline in the local workforce and alternative job opportunities had made APO recruitment more challenging.
Previously, APOs were recruited only from Singapore, Malaysia, and Taiwan.
However, in response to manpower shortages, the ministry has expanded its hiring pool.
As of December 2024, APOs have been recruited from Sri Lanka, Myanmar, the Philippines, India, and China, making up about 3% of the total APO workforce.
Ageing population adds to manpower concerns
Singapore’s ageing population further compounds manpower challenges. The country’s total fertility rate remained at 0.97 in 2024, the same as in 2023.
Teo noted that manpower demands will likely increase in the coming years as a result.
Despite these challenges, she expressed confidence in the Home Team’s ability to adapt, stating: “Overall, the Home Team has achieved good outcomes for our people. These are reflected in how Singaporeans view the Home Team positively and hold our officers in high regard.”
