The pathetic side of industrial security

Nihal de Alwis

Industrial security or more commonly known as private security was pioneered by Newton Dassanayake (former Chairman of MIS and Fellow of the ISF) with his friend Uduman in 1957, when late Sydney Soysa refused to enlist them as Probationary Sub-Inspectors in 1956 on the recommendation of ASP Seneviratne of the Colombo Division.

Today Industrial Security has expanded immensely and there are around 650 security companies in the country, besides those companies which have their own security. It will not be an exaggeration to say that they employ nearly 80,000 personnel in this trade.

The responsibilities cast on these personnel are almost equal to that of a Police Constable or Army Private entrusted with the important task of protecting valuable assets and the occupants and workers of these Institutions and Organisations which employ them.

They are not empowered with extra powers like a Police Constable but possess the same legal powers an ordinary citizen has.

The most frustrating thing to them is (a) poor wage in so much as less than that of an office peon, (b) working conditions at workplaces and poor treatment meted out to them. Facilities provided to other essential services are not provided to them with the high standard of responsibility cast on them, (d) Leave - Medical Leave, Casual Leave and most Public and Mercantile holidays are not for them, (e) No pension or medical facilities.

(a) Wage - The wage today of a Junior Security Officer is Rs 7,785 with the budget relief allowance for eight hours. The annual increment for a security officer of the lowest grade cannot manage with this wage.

Today, a tea plucker in the estate with no basic education draws a better salary for 8 hours or 9 hours.

How can a Wages Board justify such a salary for a junior security officer who is entrusted with the protection of assets of an organisation and its occupants with such a meager wage?

This officer is expected to patrol, detect, search and investigate and update with fire prevention, first aid, safety measures. Finally, to make notes and take appropriate steps in a contingency situation, protect evidence in a case of crime and apprehend the culprits.

The Industrial Security Foundation did bring this to the notice of the Wages Board on numerous occasions but it has fallen on deaf ears particularly because the Labour Department is not the proper forum? Why can’t the salaries be upgraded to fall in line with a Police Constable?

(b) Working conditions at workplace - Most workplaces ignore and fail to give a security officer their due recognition, for example some organisations (clients), I know fail to provide them (i) changing rooms, (ii) toilet and water (iii) facilities to have meals (iv) facilities to enable them to have tea and coffee (v) lack of proper table and chairs and supportive systems like proper locks, gates, barriers, lights and fire fighting equipment.

But they expect these officers to perform like senior executives when they are treated worse than their office peon, office labourer, gardener or driver.

These officers to earn extra ‘tips’ are called upon to water their plants, wash their cars and finally abused for failing to answer a telephone which is inaudible or defective.

It is a pity indeed, last but not the least they are abused and threatened by the clients an whilst some clients treat them like salves, whilst their pet dog and cat are treated better then the security personnel.

Unless the standard of the security personnel are upgraded achieving - professional recognition, creating better recruitment standards, good wage and high standard of training, the security personnel will suffer silently and lose their dignity and the dignity of its profession.

(c) Security should be treated as an essential service on par with the Police and Armed Services as they are protecting Government and Public Institutions and their assets 24 hours of the day whilst those holding high office are sleeping.

When it comes to voting time or an election they cannot be provided time to travel to distant places and thus they are a forgotten voter. Why the Government cannot provide such a service the right to postal voting and treat it as an essential service?

The fact that the Government intends creating a pension scheme is very laudable and this should have been done by the employee contributing 2 percent and employer 3 percent and such a pension should be effective after ten years of service.

This is besides, the EPF and ETF and gratuity they are now entitled to.

This pension scheme can be optional and companies which join this pension scheme should be exempted from tax in the form of a 3 percent exemption from whatever tax they are due to pay the government.

(d) These officers must be entitled to 14 days Annual leave, seven days Casual leave, seven days Medical leave and be entitled to all Mercantile holidays, as they perform a very responsible task as that of a police officer.

Most organisations which employ security personnel treat them as ‘Scum of the earth’ and not as responsible officers entrusted in the protection of their lives and assets.

This attitude must change, that can be achieved only by the enhancement of the image by the Government, security company and the security officer. All these cannot be achieved unless there is a drastic change for the betterment in wage, facilities and recognition of their responsibilities in terms of improved recognition of the task these officers perform giving it the necessary impetus to enjoy a high standard of professionalism.

An Organisation like the ISF (Industrial Security Foundation Inc.) should along with the Defence Ministry and Sri Lanka Association of Service Providers with the Labour Ministry create the proper infrastructure for an adequate training courses from guards to supervisors and managers.

It is a pity that the poor security officer is wedged between the inhuman client and a poor wage structure thus leaving no chance for security companies to improve their lot of employees with a high turnover with no option but to engage the most unsuitable individuals to perform a responsible security function. It says that “the quality of life is determined by its activities (Aristotle)” Does the activities of a dedicated security officer entitle him to what they call “quality of life”? Not unless the Government and the trade create better conditions of employment along with the Industrial Security Foundation (ISF) and the Sri Lanka Association of Service Providers, keeping in mind the ‘dignity’ of this job.