Security minimum wage not being honoured

DESPITE the new minimum wage for security guards having been agreed upon in April, and coming into effect in June, several security companies are still not complying with the N$3,80 per hour minimum wage.

Speaking to The Namibian on Friday, Khomas Regional Co-ordinator for the Namibia Transport and Allied Workers Union (Natau) Likius Vilho said some companies argued that because the new wage agreement was not gazetted, they wouldn’t pay the extra wage.’But this should not be an issue because once it is gazetted, payments will be backdated, so either way they will still have to pay,’ argues Vilho. He says the Ministry of Justice has blamed the delay on the large backlog of documents that still need to be gazetted, but that the union has been provided with the Ministry’s assurance that the document will be dealt with.In the meantime, Vilho says employees and employers alike were represented in the wage negotiations that led to an agreement being signed on April 15, and that all companies should therefore adhere to what was decided.’My suggestion is that they start implementing now. People shouldn’t wait for it to be gazetted,’ he says.The signing parties to the collective agreement included the Security Association of Namibia (SAN), the Federation of Security Employers in Namibia, the Namibia Security Guards and Watchmen’s Union (NASGWU), and Natau.Vilho said that while many of the security companies affiliated with the Security Association of Namibia (SAN) were adhering to the new wage, several others in and out of the association still need to get with the programme. He added that the most problematic companies in the payment of a minimum wage are the ‘briefcase or fly-by-night companies’, who seem to operate by their own rules.It is estimated that between 15 000 and 20 000 people are employed by over 100 private security companies in the country, and the industry is said to be one of the fastest growing in Namibia and the SADC region, but also one paying the lowest wages.Prior to the agreement, the minimum or entry-level wage for employees was N$3 per hour. Many argue that even the new minimum wage of N$3,80 is still not a reasonable living wage.Meanwhile, security company Eagle Night Watch Security CC has set the record straight on its own payment of the minimum wage to its employees, saying that the delay in starting the payment of the new wage was due to negotiating the increment with its major clients, and not due to a refusal to pay.The company says that its close to 600 employees, the Ministry of Labour, the Trade Unions and the Labour Commissioner were informed in this regard.’We will adhere to the provisions made in the agreement, because we obey the Laws. Our employees will get their usual month end salaries (on) 15 September 2009, and the backpay for June and July (some employees) will get their full payments at the end of September additional or before,’ read a statement received on Friday from the company’s Human Resources representative, Daniel Van Zyl.He says the increment is costing the company more than N$150 000, ‘although some of our clients refuse to give us an increment,’ adding that other companies should be brought to order.’Lastly, we’re also aware of the Boscom Companies who totally refuse to pay, some fly by night security companies and registered ones who didn’t implement the minimum wages. What is the Ministry of Labour (law inspectors), trade unions, etc. doing about it? Or are they only spying on certain companies? Or is it because trade union leaders also run these companies?’ the company questions.nangula@namibian.com.na