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GUARDS WANT UNDERPAYING COMPANIES CLOSED DOWN

02/10/2014 04:54:00 BY SIKELELA MAMBA

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MBABANE – Security guards have once again voiced out their grievances of being underpaid and the non-compliance to regulations by some of their employers.

Yesterday, about 500 security guards, from six security companies, marched to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security to deliver a petition to the minister.

They mentioned that their main worry was that government had allegedly failed to inspect the security companies to find out if they were registered and correctly paying their staff. They first converged at the Coronation Park in Mbabane where they were given orders on how they would march to the ministry to deliver the two-page petition. Motorists driving around the capital city had a hard time as the guards were dancing on the road and some even sat on the road at some places.

Upon arrival at the entrance of the inter-ministerial building, they were blocked by police officers and were unable to go through the gate.
They were shouting and demanding to see minister Winnie Magagula so that they could give her the petition.

However, they were told that they could not see the minister as she was out of the office. Accepting the petition on the minister’s behalf was the acting Labour Commissioner, Dickson Mkhonta, who assured the guards that he would pass it on to the minister.

“I confirm that I did receive the petition and wish to assure you that I will, without fail, deliver it to the honorable minister,” said Mkhonta. He told the security guards that the minister said she heard their concerns and would address them accordingly. The guards revealed that they were greatly affected by the persistent mushrooming of security companies, which are not properly registered. They noted that the few legally registered ones faced unfair competition from the unauthorised companies. They noted that it was disturbing to note that it has been 15 years and the issue of underpayment in the security industry had still not been resolved. They alleged that in most cases the unauthorised companies were owned by civil servants.

It was highlighted that the complying security companies faced eminent closure due to unfair business competition posed by the non-complying companies. They further alleged that out of 86 security companies, only six companies were complying with laid down procedures. It was revealed that a majority of the security companies were underpaying their employees yet they handsomely charge their clients.

It was mentioned that only six companies were paying their employees on time and according to the Government Gazette. They said some security companies were paying their employees as little as E400 a month yet the gazette states that a guard should be paid E1 900.
“We hereby demand that the honourable minister complies with the above, failing which, we shall embark on a nationwide protest and strike,” read part of the petition.