In the ever-changing economic times job losses have been witnessed in many companies laying off staff over redundancy. In such cases, there's is nothing much that can be done. However, with the debate on whether to arm security men or not still on going there has been an outcry by the security soldiers saying they are being underpaid
With the higher risks, the personnel are exposed to, yet the reflection for the same does not feature anywhere in their salaries. They say they earn millions of money for their security companies employers yet what they only take home at the end of every month is peanuts.
The guards are found in places like malls, hotels, supermarkets, offices, hospitals and many other places and tasked with ensuring that every person that enters the premises is screened for security purposes. Initially, the job for security firms was believed to be for men only, but today the sector boasts for over 500,000 guards both men and women.
The security firm absorbs both qualified men and women who are trained basically, before being sent to various firms who have entered into contracts with the security providers. With the security companies pocketing billions from the contractor companies, their payslips for the security guards might leave one shocked.
Not forgetting deductions like NHIF and NSSF which worsen the already worst salaries. Additionally, some regulations might be costly and more than a sting to the employers mostly females, with over 200 female workers losing their positions for conceiving in unnecessary times as some security firms call them.
"Something must be done to weigh in between the security firms and the security guards interests. It is so inhumane for a guard to generate like Sh50,000 to a security firm monthly, yet they themselves take home Sh5,000," noted Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho. Some guards earn as low as Sh7,000 which is below the minimum wage according to set guidelines.
The low salaries are reportedly among the cause of increased burglary in the institutions being guarded, as the burglars are said to lure the guards with handsome offers, which they can't compare to the little earnings. It is then during that when they willingly allow access for the burglars in exchange of the exciting offers.
However, things may take a U-turn after the government threatened to be vetting the private security firms. The companies will now be required to meet some demands so as to have them cleared. Among the requirements will be an incorporation certificate and identification documents in addition to a certificate of good conduct, KRA pin plus audited accounts for at least three years.
"Only security firms which have been vetted and fully cleared will be considered for licensing by the end of March 31, 2020," read a press statement from Interior Ministry as seen by Nation.