Government drawn into fray over exploitation of security guards

THE Namibia Transport and Allied Workers’ Union has blamed Government for what it describes as the unabated abuse of security personnel in Namibia.

Natau’s General Secretary, John Kwedhi, told the media last week that Government contributed to this situation by not paying security companies for services rendered. He said Khomas Security, Njangula Security Services and Humphries Security Services all provided security to the State but were not paid on time.In turn, the companies were not paying their personnel, he claimed.”We call on both parties (Government and security companies) to speedily resolve their squabbles and immediately attend to the workers’ concerns,” Kwedhi said.Ten days ago, security personnel of Njangula Security Services held a peaceful demonstration in Oshakati, complaining about unfair labour practices.The guards demanded that their salaries be paid on the same date every month.They also demanded pay slips and back-pay to March 1, when minimum wages were introduced.The companies complain that they do not get their payments on time from the Government.In some cases, like Humphries, they claimed that they had to wait for months to receive what was due to them.Natau described that as “gross negligence and maladministration” that deprives the guards of their hard-earned wages.He said Government and the security companies alike had a “care-free attitude” and must stop with their “nonsensical power play and mudslinging”.In March this year, Natau entered into a minimum-wage agreement with the Namibia Security Guards and Watchmen Union (NASGWU) and the Security Association of Namibia.The agreement was gazetted in September.However, Kwedhi said not all security companies have implemented the minimum-wage agreement.He called on the Ministry of Labour to ensure that it was implemented by the security companies.He said Khomas Security, Njangula Security Services and Humphries Security Services all provided security to the State but were not paid on time.In turn, the companies were not paying their personnel, he claimed.”We call on both parties (Government and security companies) to speedily resolve their squabbles and immediately attend to the workers’ concerns,” Kwedhi said.Ten days ago, security personnel of Njangula Security Services held a peaceful demonstration in Oshakati, complaining about unfair labour practices.The guards demanded that their salaries be paid on the same date every month.They also demanded pay slips and back-pay to March 1, when minimum wages were introduced.The companies complain that they do not get their payments on time from the Government.In some cases, like Humphries, they claimed that they had to wait for months to receive what was due to them.Natau described that as “gross negligence and maladministration” that deprives the guards of their hard-earned wages.He said Government and the security companies alike had a “care-free attitude” and must stop with their “nonsensical power play and mudslinging”.In March this year, Natau entered into a minimum-wage agreement with the Namibia Security Guards and Watchmen Union (NASGWU) and the Security Association of Namibia.The agreement was gazetted in September.However, Kwedhi said not all security companies have implemented the minimum-wage agreement.He called on the Ministry of Labour to ensure that it was implemented by the security companies.