Security guards expecting ‘better treatment’, big financial difference Loop Jamaica

Black Immigrant Daily News

Security guards employed in the private security industry are celebrating the recent ruling by the high court which, in effect, now means they are entitled to the benefits applicable to employees.

Workers in the industry have complained for years of poor treatment, long work hours without the benefit of overtime pay, and the absence of other benefits accorded to workers categorised as employees under the law.

But, with the recent court judgement, Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU) President General, Kavan Gayle, says private security firms will be hard-pressed to refuse any of the labour benefits that the guards are now entitled to.

The high court has ruled that security guards engaged by Marksman Limited are employees and not contract workers and that the company should begin paying its portion of National Housing Trust (NHT) statutory contributions immediately.

While the judgement “is really for the purposes of National Housing Trust (NHT) contributions, the context of the judgement implies that every other provision in law that applies to the workers would be applicable to them,” Gayle explained to Loop News.

The wide-ranging labour and legal implications, which now basically spell “better treatment by security companies”, have left many workers in the industry quite happy.

A 30-year-old woman, who recently had to take months of unpaid sick leave, reasoned that the ruling means “things would be much better for me as a female”.

The woman, who did not wish to be named, said it would mean the ability to now get maternity leave.

“It is going to be better for our pockets, and families can now plan better. And, if the overtime rate [that the employers will now have to pay based on the ruling of the court] is more than the rate for regular hours, financially, that will make a big difference,” she said of the potential financial gains to workers following the court’s ruling.

She explained that previously, “security guards worked to pay themselves. If you don’t go to work, you don’t get paid, but I am looking forward to being treated like a real employee who can get sick leave.”

“You know you not going to abuse it, but if you wake up with a splitting headache, now you don’t have to push yourself to go out because you can get paid for the day same way,” she reasoned.

Another security guard, a 50-year-old man who has been working in the industry for more than 25 years, agrees.

“I think the changes will be very good, but I believe they take too long to come because many [security] companies have been mistreating the guards for years,” the man, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said.

“For example, sometimes the company will tell you that you are the only security guard at a location so you can’t get lunchtime. You work long hours [and] you don’t get food; you don’t get a break time. And, if you go across the road to get something to eat, you hear that you have abandoned your location,” he said.

Another security guard based in St James said while the changes are good, he fears many guards may eventually lose their jobs.

“I think the clients will have to cut some of the security posts in order to pay because they will have to pay more [for security services],” he said.

“The contract is already set so to meet the new cost, they may ask to cut some of the posts that security guards work in order to save on the cost,” he reasoned.

By Tameka Gordon

NewsAmericasNow.com