Security guard wage chaos

The majority of security guard firms in Namibia have yet to adjust salaries to the new minimum wage that was set at the beginning of January this year.

According to sources, at least more than 50% of security firms are not yet paying the new minimum wage of N$8.75, claiming that clients, including government, want to first see that the changes are gazetted.

It is unclear how many security guards are not yet earning the new minimum wage.

Nevertheless, a last minute agreement between the unions and the Security Association of Namibia (SAN) in December, which warded off a Christmas season strike, stipulated that the new minimum wage must be implemented by 1 January, despite it not being gazetted yet.

Moreover, a member of SAN this week warned that companies and clients refusing to adhere to the new wages were not acting in line with the labour law.

“There is no exemption to any company or employer for not adhering and the critical fact is that it became effective on the first of January. The government gazette is no excuse.”

He explained that a labour case could and should be opened at the Ministry of Labour by any employee who was not being paid the new minimum wage of N$8.75 per hour.

He added that security guards in general should be approached by labour officials during the first week of March to see if they are being paid in accordance with the agreement.

“Furthermore, they should be invited to report it to SAN and the unions,” the SAN member said.

John Kwedhi, Namibia Transport and Allied Workers Union (Natau) general-secretary warned at the signing of the agreement in December that the agreement is applicable to the entire security guard sector. He said the unions would not hesitate to take action against anyone refusing to implement the new wages at the start of January.

He particularly warned employers and clients of security firms not to wait for the agreement to be gazetted.

Numerous attempts to contact the representatives from the three unions last week who acted on behalf of the security guards failed.

Earlier this year, a security firm owner and a member of SAN explained that many security companies were struggling to motivate the increased service fees to clients, without proof that the increases have been gazetted.





“Many companies are finding it difficult to bring any adjustments as per the agreement. The reason stated by clients is that the agreement has not yet been gazetted, so it has not been legally recognised yet.”

Clients include government offices, including the Khomas Regional Council.

Yesterday, Clement Mafwila, chief regional officer for Khomas confirmed that the council had received a letter explaining that fees would be raised in return for services at Groot Aub by Shilimela Security Services, a long-time service provider to the council.

However, Mafwila told Namibian Sun that the council could not approve higher service fees, because the new wages have not yet been gazetted.

He said unless that happens, a request from the tender board for additional funds to cover costs for the Groot Aub security services would more than likely not be approved.

“If it is gazetted, then it will not be a problem,” he said. He added that the payments would be calculated as from the implementation dates and would be made as soon as fee increases are formally approved through the required channels.

Security guards employed by Shilimela Security Services at Groot Aub this week complained that their salaries had not been adjusted over the past five years. They claimed that the Ministry of Labour has not stepped in to help and urged the labour commissioner to investigate.

Banda Shilimela, founder and owner of the security firm, yesterday denied these claims.

He said that the majority of his employees stationed across the country, including at the University of Namibia, had received the salary hike in line with the new minimum wage. He said this was done after clients had agreed to pay higher service fees and he was able to accommodate the new minimum wages.

He said the Groot Aub employees were still paid the N$7 minimum wage and no less. He confirmed that their salaries would be increased as soon as the clients agreed to pay the higher fees which he would need in order to cover the costs of salary increases.

Shilimela told Namibian Sun yesterday that the company is “committed to the agreement” between the unions and SAN and that he has “no objection whatsoever” to pay the higher fees.

He put it on record that the company would increase the salary to the new minimum wage of all Groot Aub security guards and pay back-pay from 1 January, as soon as his clients, the Khomas Regional Council, agreed to pay higher service fees.

“We don't get money from anywhere else except from our clients for the work we are doing. Government is currently still paying us on the rate that is now out-dated. So we can't pay more, because we don't have it.”

Emails and phone calls to the permanent secretary of the labour ministry, Bro-Matthew Shinguadja, went unanswered.

JANA-MARI SMITH



JANA-MARI SMITH