Security guards still poorly paid

Eight months after the Security Association of Namibia (SAN) and security guards agreed on a 25% wage increase, as few as 25 security companies have implemented the increase, leaving most of Namibia's 17 000 security guards out in the cold and throwing the industry into unrest. Concerned industry operators told Namibian Sun that because of delays in gazetting the agreement a majority of security companies have refused to implement the new wages. An estimated 150 out of a total of 180 security companies continue to pay employees the old N$7.00 hourly minimum wage, instead of the new N$8.75 wage, which should have been implemented in January. As few as five security companies started paying the N$10.00 hourly wages to long-serving employees in July, as per the December minimum wage agreement. Although the labour ministry in June published a gazette inviting objections to the new minimum wages, there has been no further progress. Members of SAN have repeatedly called on the Ministry of Safety and Security to finalise and implement strict industry regulations that could help improve oversight of a sector riddled with fly-by-night operators who flout minimum wages and health and safety standards. The industry members who want to see better wages paid across the board, to benefit employees but also to ensure fair competition, say they are frustrated that the ministry of labour has not yet pushed for speedier implementation of the wage agreement this year. SAN president Dries Kannemeyer has dismissed labour permanent secretary Bro-Mathew Shinguadja's statements earlier this year, where the PS defended the ministry's position and blamed SAN and the unions for not following the correct steps. Kannemeyer says the labour ministry's apparent lack of interest in the matter has thrown the industry into chaos and the ministry's public announcement that only SAN members would have to pay the new wages, until they are extended to the rest of the industry, raised serious questions. “What is going on at Labour? We cannot continue with this situation, as this will bring the security industry to its knees.” John Kwedhi of the Namibia Transport and Allied Workers Union (Natau), who last year encouraged security guards to strike during the festive season if SAN did not agree to a hefty wage hike, told Namibian Sun this week that his office had received several complaints from members since December. “The situation is not conducive to the security industry,” he said. He said many security companies with government contracts claimed they could only pay the increased wages once they were gazetted, but promised employees back pay. Kwedhi added that the few companies who had implemented the new wages felt they were facing unfair competition, and that others were profiteering from their decision to raise wages. SAN said this week that the companies paying higher wages were losing customers to those that were paying lower wages and could charge customers less. Kannemeyer said another concern was that certain SAN members were now also refusing to pay the minimum wage until it is gazetted. Kannemeyer said there was no guarantee that companies would give their guards back pay. “The question is, will they pay the back pay and who is going to police this?” he asked. SAN continues to argue in favour of serious changes that will improve industry oversight and help regulate the industry as a whole, and not simply depend on the goodwill of a few. One of the suggestions is to create a wage commission for the security industry and to improve the labour ministry's ability to police wages, security guard working conditions and more, not only in the central areas but across the country. “Once the regulations are in place, these negotiations can be put aside, and the Act and regulations will dictate the way forward. The bottom line is that there are no rules to govern the industry. We need the Ministry of Safety and Security to stand up and do their work, before labour unrest in this industry harms the country and gives Namibia a bad name.”JANA-MARI SMITH

Security guards still poorly paid

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Namibian Sun 2025-01-10

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Security guards still poorly paid

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Namibian Sun 2025-01-10

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