By crus ombati
KENYA: Private security guards attached to United Nations (UN) agencies are demanding a minimum salary of Sh30,000 in a proposed Wages Order.
The Special Wages Order for Private Security Industry will also target financial institutions in the country.
Security firms contracted by banks will have to pay guards the same amount in a fresh bid to force Parliament to fast track the enactment of the Private Security Industry Regulation Bill 2012.
Guards offering security services at Government offices and parastatals will earn Sh25,000 while those in the third category falling under commercial and private properties will pocket a minimum of Sh15,000.
Proper remuneration
The proposal was endorsed on Sunday by all shop stewards at a meeting in Nairobi as they urged Labour Minister John Munyes to implement it.
They claimed they had been forced to come up with the proposal because of reluctance to enact the Bill, which addresses issues of proper remuneration, training, and regulation, among other changes aimed at professionalising and transforming the sector.
The Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution (CIC) has put the Bill on hold.
Nairobi branch Kenya National Private Security Workers’ Union Secretary General Joash Soita said they want the current General Wages Order of a minimum salary of Sh9,752 revoked.
Since February, the guards have been pushing for better pay and terms of employment, with the Ministry of Labour promising to look into the matter whenever they issued a strike notice. “We shall down tools and march to all relevant offices demanding answers over the fate of the Bill,” said Soita.
