PROTESTING FIDELITY GUARDS DAMAGE GATE

MANZINI - Fidelity Security Services Group Eswatini employees yesterday damaged a gate belonging to the company during a protest.

The security guards downed tools and engaged in a picket over delayed payment of terminal benefits for senior employees and lack of uniform.
The security guards took to the headquarters of the security company in Matsapha to demand the payment of the benefits and uniform. At around 9am, they were found picketing while singing political songs and dancing. So serious was the picketing that a gate was reportedly removed by the security guards when they wanted to gain entry into the premises to communicate their grievances and demands to management. Members of the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) were called to maintain order.

Negotiating

They were seen negotiating with the furious guards, who seemingly wanted to enter the premises by force. Eventually, a few representatives were allowed entry into the offices and a meeting with management was convened. One of the security guards, who was found picketing, shared that they were retrenched in August and were not paid their terminal benefits. “We are working for one of the most reputable companies, which is also based in South Africa, but we are not provided uniforms. Even the ones we have are worn out, it is not uniform. This is saddening,” the guard lamented.    
Swaziland Amalgamated Trade Unions (SATU) Secretary General (SG) Frank Mncina said the security company was allegedly failing to pay its employees who were retrenched in August. This is after the security company allegedly terminated a contract with a telephone company that owed them millions of Emalangeni. He said the termination of contracts started from July until August. Mncina said it had been a while since the about 315 employees were unpaid.

“We are going to wage this conflict until the wages are paid because we believe the company has an obligation to comply with the law,” Mncina said.
The SG said during the meeting, management reportedly stated that their legal opinion was that the employees were not entitled to terminal benefits. The SG disputed this. He said there would be no calm until employees were paid their dues. Mncina reiterated that they would continue putting pressure on management. Efforts to reach management telephonically for comment were futile as a receptionist told this reporter that the management was out of the office. He said the reporter should physically return to the offices tomorrow.

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