The Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA) has announced a door-to-door crackdown on private security companies, starting from Monday April 22nd.
In a statement made on April 19, the Authority reported that its enforcement and compliance department had visited two security companies with the purpose of conducting a compliance check of the issued directive.
“Today, The Enforcement and Compliance Department at PSRA visited A-TEAM and PG SECURITY to verify that original personal documents being held by the security company have been returned back to Security Guards,”
“The Authority shall, starting Monday next week, be conducting door to door enforcement audits of the compliance status of Private Security Companies,” said the Authority.
This follows an earlier directive issued on April 2nd that mandated security companies to immediately release original National IDs, academic certificates, and any other personal documents belonging to private security officers.
Consequences on Non-compliance
Additionally, PSRA also warned that failure to comply with the directive will result in the cancellation of licenses and additional penalties.
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“Any private security company found NOT to have complied with the directive shall, in addition to the cancellation of license, be liable to the penalties prescribed under the Act,” read the statement.
This decision came after concerns were raised by security guards who complained that their respective employers were unlawfully detaining their documents.
PSRA Issues the directive
On April 2, PSRA Director General Fazul Mahamed had in directed all private security companies to submit all credentials belonging to their security guards within 48 hours.
He noted that withholding personal documents belonging to security guards was a violation of the law, terms and conditions attached to the certificate of registration and the code of conduct for private security service providers.
“The Authority is committed to ensuring that the rights of private security officers are upheld and that any form of exploitation is eradicated,” he said.
“The Authority will ensure this Illegality is put to a stop,” he added.
Security guards asked to report employers
Furthermore, in a bid to ensure compliance the PSRA urged all security guards to report companies holding their IDs through its email ([email protected]) or via its WhatsApp number.
Mahamed further warned that appropriate legal action will be taken on those companies that will fail to comply with the directive.
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“Any private security company that refuses, declines, and/or willfully fails to comply with this directive, COMMITS AN OFFENCE and shall in addition to cancellation of license, be liable to the penalty prescribed under the Act or any other written law whichever is higher,” PRSA added.
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