Guarding millions, paid peanuts Deadlock in security guard wage talks Negotiations on improving the pay and working conditions of security guards have ground to a halt. JANA-MARI SMITHA stalemate has been declared in wage negotiations between workers’ unions and security industry bosses, with guards saying they are fed up with low pay and bad working conditions.
In a joint press statement yesterday trade unions working on behalf of the roughly 17 000 security guards around the country warned that if the labour conciliation process does not resolve the issue “the nation should prepare for the worst as security guards are tired of working for peanuts.”
Recently, John Kwedhi, general secretary of the Namibia Transport and Allied Workers Union (Natau), told Namibian Sun that many security officials continue to work in “really terrible conditions”.
Kwedhi said basic working conditions, including a lack of toilet facilities and illegal deductions from salaries, continue to plague the mostly unregulated industry.
“These are harsh conditions,” he said.
According to the unions, the deadlock was reached on Monday after the Security Association of Namibia (SAN), representing security company owners, and the unions refused to budge from their respective minimum hourly and monthly wage proposals.
The unions’ final demand dropped from an initial N$15 per hour minimum rate to N$12.50 per hour across the board, resulting in a final monthly minimum salary of N$3 300.
SAN’s final offer was a minimum entry-level rate of N$7.50 per hour. Their offer included an offer of N$8.75 per hour for security guards working for a year or more, resulting in a monthly rate of N$2 310.
The three unions taking the battle to the Labour Commission include Natau, the Namibia Independence Security Union (NISU) and the Namibia Security Guards and Watchman Union (NASGWU), with support from the Trade Union Congress of Namibia (Tucna).
The unions yesterday warned that failure to resolve the dispute would have widespread negative consequences for Namibia, as high-value properties “may be left without protection”.
Tucna president Paulus Hango yesterday said that Namibia is recognised as one of the most unequal countries in the world. “Wage differentials rather than unemployment are regarded as driving inequality,” he said.
He said it is the duty of trade unions to work harder to raise minimum wages, as studies have shown that higher minimum wages can help quash poverty and inequality. Moreover, increased pay can provide a stimulus to the economy with potentially favourable effects benefiting the whole country.
Hango said in Namibia many hard workers still cannot afford basic necessities. “They are struggling to pay rent and take care of their families.”
Previously, SAN members argued that the wage demands were unrealistic and irresponsible, as they could lead to job losses. The association argued that clients of security companies would rather hire fewer guards than pay much higher rates.
Nevertheless, Hango yesterday cited a series of recent studies on the impact of raising minimum wages, all of which dismissed claims that increasing wages would cause unemployment and close businesses.
Instead, the studies found that the most significant impact of increasing minimum wages was on reductions in labour turnover, “which yield significant cost savings to employers”.
Requests for comments from SAN representatives were not answered by the time of going to print yesterday.