Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA) has ordered all private security firms to stop remitting monthly contributions to the Central Organization for Trade Unions (COTU) from security guards’ paychecks.
In a statement, PSRA noted that the move aims to change the way trade union fees are handled, ensuring that security guards’ salaries are not affected by these deductions.
The directive, issued by Fazul Mahamed, Chief Executive Officer and Director General of the PSRA, comes in response to mounting grievances from private security officers regarding the alleged neglect of their rights and welfare by COTU.
“Private security officers constitute a large percentage of COTU’s membership and despite their low salaries have faithfully contributed trade union fees to COTU for decades,” stated Mahamed.
The decision which PSRA states is rooted in Section 9 (k) of the Private Security Regulation Act, illustrates the regulator’s commitment to upholding the rights and welfare of private security officers.
This move signals departure from the status quo, where private security companies routinely deducted and remitted trade union fees to COTU on behalf of their employees.
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COTU Purpoted Negligence
Despite the substantial financial contributions from private security officers, COTU’s purported negligence in addressing issues such as compliance with minimum wage and promotion of general welfare has sparked outrage within the industry.
The Authority noted that Section 10 (b) of the Act empowers the PSRA to investigate matters within its purview.
As such, the Authority has initiated an inquiry into the collection and utilization of trade union fees by COTU.
“Preliminary investigation by the Authority has confirmed that indeed private security officers have made significant contributions to COTU in form of monthly trade union fees,” revealed Mahamed.
Furthermore, COTU has been collecting remittances of over 1.3 million private security guards across the country.
“This directive shall remain in force until such a time the Authority expressly directs otherwise,” affirmed Mahamed.
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Moreover, the PSRA issued a stern warning to private security companies, cautioning them against non-compliance with the directive.
“Take Notice: any private security company that continues to deduct and remit the said fees to the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU), SHALL be subjected to a statutory review of its registration and licensing status,” pointed out Mahamed.
