Security industry still in trouble
An estimated 200 to 300 security companies operate under the radar and do not comply with industry regulations such as minimum wages.
A threatened protest by members of the Namibian Independent Security Union (NISU) against a government contract with a security company accused of not paying minimum wages has again highlighted a sector that remains troubled.
Non-compliance with the gazetted minimum wages for security guards, lack of payslips, questionable working hours and conditions, lack of payment by government and many other issues continue to haunt the security industry.
Labour permanent secretary Bro-Mathew Shinguadja confirmed that the ministry had received many complaints about non-compliance by security companies.
“The ministry is very much concerned about the non-compliance and total disregard of the minimum conditions and minimum wage in this sector,” he said.
He added that the company accused of non-compliance by NISU had also been reported to the ministry for similar violations.
“This is a countrywide problem. The majority of security companies, around 80%, do not pay the minimum wage,” the president of the Security Association of Namibia (SAN), Hans Miljo, told Namibian Sun.
He said the association, which represents 48 large and medium-sized security companies, which are required to comply strictly with all regulations, has called an urgent meeting with the relevant unions and the labour ministry to address the problems in the sector.
In December 2016, SAN, together with NISU, the Namibia Transport and Allied Workers Union (Natau), and the Namibia Security Guards and Watchmen Union (NASGWU), agreed on new minimum wages of N$8.75 per hour (entry level) and N$10 (experienced). The wages were gazetted in September last year, roughly nine months after the agreement was first signed.
Miljo estimates that besides the 48 security firms under the SAN umbrella, between 200 and 300 security companies operate in Namibia, many under the radar and most not compliant with regulations including minimum pay.
Miljo added that the company accused by NISU of non-compliance, which has denied the allegations to Namibian Sun, would be contacted and given three months to respond to the allegations, as it is a member of SAN.
“If we have a complaint like this, we take it up with a letter and give them three months to get their house in order. If they don't, then they are informed they are not a member anymore. We take strict steps in this regard.”
But, he added, the industry remains riddled with problems that need to be addressed urgently, including a lack of regulations that allow fly-by-night operators to thrive and to ignore the law.
“Most are not registered with SAN or at all. They just do their thing. And if you have four security guards, then you are seen as a security business. The fact that the economy is not doing so well, people make use of these companies who work for half the price. Now, how do they pay their guards the minimum wage, if they want to be profitable?”
Government pay delays
Another issue highlighted by Miljo and the unions is delayed payment by government institutions, which leaves security companies unable to pay their employees.
“Some companies take three months before they are paid by government. It's a big issue that needs to be addressed. If they don't pay, then the security guard is not paid, and then they become reluctant to do their job properly,” Miljo said.
John Kwedhi, the general secretary of the Namibian Transport and Allied Workers Union (Natau), says failure to provide payslips, paying less than the minimum wage, and slow government payments are major challenges faced by the industry.
He said the union was currently dealing with a case involving the same employer NISU is accusing of non-compliance, where an employee has struggled to obtain a payslip in order to open an account with a service provider.
“This guy has been sent from pillar to post. The company claim they are issuing payslips, but when the security guard went to their office to get the payslip, he was refused.”
He added that delays in government payment were worsening the situation.
NISU action
In a letter to the gender ministry in early August, NISU said it had circulated a list of non-compliant companies to that ministry and many other government institutions, but the company in question was still contracted.
NISU condemned the contract and requested that it be revoked.
On Wednesday, NISU secretary-general Simon Kandondo said a protest would be staged at the gender ministry's offices in two weeks, unless the contract was revoked.
At the time, NISU was unable to provide sufficient proof of non-compliance, but said the union had been inundated with complaints from members.
The ministry responded to NISU's concerns in writing, saying that the contract had been awarded in terms of the Procurement Act, but that the ministry took note of the concerns and would “engage the successful bidder with a view to ensuring compliance”.
JANA-MARI SMITH
Non-compliance with the gazetted minimum wages for security guards, lack of payslips, questionable working hours and conditions, lack of payment by government and many other issues continue to haunt the security industry.
Labour permanent secretary Bro-Mathew Shinguadja confirmed that the ministry had received many complaints about non-compliance by security companies.
“The ministry is very much concerned about the non-compliance and total disregard of the minimum conditions and minimum wage in this sector,” he said.
He added that the company accused of non-compliance by NISU had also been reported to the ministry for similar violations.
“This is a countrywide problem. The majority of security companies, around 80%, do not pay the minimum wage,” the president of the Security Association of Namibia (SAN), Hans Miljo, told Namibian Sun.
He said the association, which represents 48 large and medium-sized security companies, which are required to comply strictly with all regulations, has called an urgent meeting with the relevant unions and the labour ministry to address the problems in the sector.
In December 2016, SAN, together with NISU, the Namibia Transport and Allied Workers Union (Natau), and the Namibia Security Guards and Watchmen Union (NASGWU), agreed on new minimum wages of N$8.75 per hour (entry level) and N$10 (experienced). The wages were gazetted in September last year, roughly nine months after the agreement was first signed.
Miljo estimates that besides the 48 security firms under the SAN umbrella, between 200 and 300 security companies operate in Namibia, many under the radar and most not compliant with regulations including minimum pay.
Miljo added that the company accused by NISU of non-compliance, which has denied the allegations to Namibian Sun, would be contacted and given three months to respond to the allegations, as it is a member of SAN.
“If we have a complaint like this, we take it up with a letter and give them three months to get their house in order. If they don't, then they are informed they are not a member anymore. We take strict steps in this regard.”
But, he added, the industry remains riddled with problems that need to be addressed urgently, including a lack of regulations that allow fly-by-night operators to thrive and to ignore the law.
“Most are not registered with SAN or at all. They just do their thing. And if you have four security guards, then you are seen as a security business. The fact that the economy is not doing so well, people make use of these companies who work for half the price. Now, how do they pay their guards the minimum wage, if they want to be profitable?”
Government pay delays
Another issue highlighted by Miljo and the unions is delayed payment by government institutions, which leaves security companies unable to pay their employees.
“Some companies take three months before they are paid by government. It's a big issue that needs to be addressed. If they don't pay, then the security guard is not paid, and then they become reluctant to do their job properly,” Miljo said.
John Kwedhi, the general secretary of the Namibian Transport and Allied Workers Union (Natau), says failure to provide payslips, paying less than the minimum wage, and slow government payments are major challenges faced by the industry.
He said the union was currently dealing with a case involving the same employer NISU is accusing of non-compliance, where an employee has struggled to obtain a payslip in order to open an account with a service provider.
“This guy has been sent from pillar to post. The company claim they are issuing payslips, but when the security guard went to their office to get the payslip, he was refused.”
He added that delays in government payment were worsening the situation.
NISU action
In a letter to the gender ministry in early August, NISU said it had circulated a list of non-compliant companies to that ministry and many other government institutions, but the company in question was still contracted.
NISU condemned the contract and requested that it be revoked.
On Wednesday, NISU secretary-general Simon Kandondo said a protest would be staged at the gender ministry's offices in two weeks, unless the contract was revoked.
At the time, NISU was unable to provide sufficient proof of non-compliance, but said the union had been inundated with complaints from members.
The ministry responded to NISU's concerns in writing, saying that the contract had been awarded in terms of the Procurement Act, but that the ministry took note of the concerns and would “engage the successful bidder with a view to ensuring compliance”.
JANA-MARI SMITH
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