Union to act against security companies
The Trade Union Congress of Namibia (Tucna) has threatened to report, name and shame and possibly sue security companies who are still not compliant with the new minimum wage gazetted last year.
Tucna president Paulus Hango yesterday condemned security companies who have refused to implement the agreed minimum wage for security guards and demanded that all companies implement it.
“We want to make our position crystal clear that we have had enough of the companies that continuously violate the collective agreement which were agreed to by parties. It must be noted that the security guards are underpaid and are working under very difficult conditions and situations.”
He said the refusal of the companies was unacceptable and violated the Labour Act and the Namibian Constitution.
Hango warned companies that if they continued with the unfair labour practice the union would “take the necessary steps”.
He warned that security companies that did not comply with the new minimum wage would not qualify for government tenders.
According to him the labour ministry has been given a list of companies that have refused to implement the new minimum wage.
Hango said all government-owned companies would be notified of the non-compliance and the union would take legal action against the security companies that failed to implement it.
The union would also publish the names of companies that exploited their employees and all embassies and high commissions in Namibia would be asked not to employ them. The union wanted a wage commissioner to be appointed and said the minimum wage must be enforced by labour inspectors and the security industry must be regulated.
Hango added that the Equity Commissioner would also be given the list of non-compliant companies so that their annual affirmative action reports would not be accepted. The Social Security Commission would also be notified so that it could deduct social security contributions at a rate of N$10 per hour, Hango said.
“We will not rest until all security employees are paid a living wage,” he vowed.
Last year the Security Association of Namibia (SAN), Namibia Transport and Allied Workers Union (NATAU), Namibia Security Guard and Watchmen Union (NASGWU) and Namibia Independent Security Union (NISU) signed a collective agreement on a minimum wage. However, according to Hango SAN withdrew from the agreement to continue being part of the Namibian Labour Forum.
“This withdrawal and refusal to implement the collective agreement demonstrates that the security companies are determined to continue exploiting and paying employees starving wages.”
The new minimum wage for entry-level security guards effective from 1 January last year is N$8.75 per hour. For guards who have been employed for more than a year, the minimum is N$10 per hour.
“That means almost all security guards have to be paid N$10 per hour. Many security companies have failed to comply with the collective agreement,” said Hango.
ELLANIE SMIT
Tucna president Paulus Hango yesterday condemned security companies who have refused to implement the agreed minimum wage for security guards and demanded that all companies implement it.
“We want to make our position crystal clear that we have had enough of the companies that continuously violate the collective agreement which were agreed to by parties. It must be noted that the security guards are underpaid and are working under very difficult conditions and situations.”
He said the refusal of the companies was unacceptable and violated the Labour Act and the Namibian Constitution.
Hango warned companies that if they continued with the unfair labour practice the union would “take the necessary steps”.
He warned that security companies that did not comply with the new minimum wage would not qualify for government tenders.
According to him the labour ministry has been given a list of companies that have refused to implement the new minimum wage.
Hango said all government-owned companies would be notified of the non-compliance and the union would take legal action against the security companies that failed to implement it.
The union would also publish the names of companies that exploited their employees and all embassies and high commissions in Namibia would be asked not to employ them. The union wanted a wage commissioner to be appointed and said the minimum wage must be enforced by labour inspectors and the security industry must be regulated.
Hango added that the Equity Commissioner would also be given the list of non-compliant companies so that their annual affirmative action reports would not be accepted. The Social Security Commission would also be notified so that it could deduct social security contributions at a rate of N$10 per hour, Hango said.
“We will not rest until all security employees are paid a living wage,” he vowed.
Last year the Security Association of Namibia (SAN), Namibia Transport and Allied Workers Union (NATAU), Namibia Security Guard and Watchmen Union (NASGWU) and Namibia Independent Security Union (NISU) signed a collective agreement on a minimum wage. However, according to Hango SAN withdrew from the agreement to continue being part of the Namibian Labour Forum.
“This withdrawal and refusal to implement the collective agreement demonstrates that the security companies are determined to continue exploiting and paying employees starving wages.”
The new minimum wage for entry-level security guards effective from 1 January last year is N$8.75 per hour. For guards who have been employed for more than a year, the minimum is N$10 per hour.
“That means almost all security guards have to be paid N$10 per hour. Many security companies have failed to comply with the collective agreement,” said Hango.
ELLANIE SMIT
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