Private Security

Although this industry has realised exponential growth over the years, its image continues to be tainted as it endures various challenges that require a collective and systematic approach in a way it is regulated.

It harbours deep-rooted challenges that continue unabated and unresolved. This exacerbates widespread non-compliance and some disregard for workers’ fundamental rights.

This industry although regulated has for a long time been harbouring some elements of exploitation of its workforce who some still do not enjoy the benefits of being employed as a security officer. Those affected continue to be subjected to insecure employment, poor working conditions, low wages, long working hours and some with no benefits when they pass on or retire. This is also exacerbated by the lingering perception that being a security officer is a low status occupation where security guards feel stigmatised and not socially recognised.

Of concern as an industry is a high level of labour turnover as being a security officer is seen as a profession that is a steppingstone to other forms of employment. In most cases being a security officer is never regarded as the employment of choice by many. This profession is chosen out of necessity, driven by the need to earn a living and the relative lack of employment opportunities in other industries.

So, it goes without saying that empowering security officers goes beyond issues of skills development, it requires the creation and harnessing of a conducive operational environment that will feed into the entire industry value chain commencing with how its perceived, valued, monopolised by larger players and regulated.

As the Private Sector Workers Trade Union, we are determined to improve the working conditions and salaries of workers. We cannot leave workers languishing deeper in indigence. Hence our resolve to have strategic engagements with the industry’s various stakeholders to deal with the systematic underlying challenges that hinder worker progress whilst dealing with the day-to-day servicing of our members.