Trade unions trying to make inroads into private security agencies

G4S, the multinational company that has been entrusted with the responsibility of security during the Commonwealth Games, is in the eye of the storm, with trade unions and employees crying hoarse about exploitation of workers. Representatives of the company, however, could not be reached for comments.

Representatives of the major Indian company involved in the private security guard business, Premier Security Services, denies these allegations.

Senior vice-president of the company, SP Diwan says, “We provide salaries through cheques. All salaries are on record. How can anyone claim we give less than promised? There is no denying that sometimes salaries get delayed because we depend on our clients for payment. But, it’s never more than a few days late.”

Philip Bowyer, Deputy General Secretary, UNI says, “For India, the Commonwealth Games are not only an opportunity to showcase talent and organizational skills, but also the respect this nation has for human rights.”

“We appeal to the Indian government to recognise security services as an industry so that these guards can come under the Industrial Disputes Act and their interests can be safeguarded,” he adds.

Sudhir Kumar, CITU representative from Delhi says, “According to the law of the land, minimum wage for a guard is Rs 3,683 per month. But, these companies bifurcate even this into basic salary and perks, the guards end up losing a lot of money.”

Sunil Kumar Singh, working for the Premier Security Services, for the last six years, says, “I earn Rs 3,600 per month. My family is in the village. I can hardly send them anything so they are all dependent on farming. Diwali is round the corner and I have not received my salary for the last two months.”

Another employee of the same organization, Suchit Kumar, rues that his one day’s pay was cut for the Bihar flood victims without even asking for his permission.

“Every time we are transferred, the charges for a new uniform are deducted from our salary. That means we lose around Rs 1,000 every six months for uniforms,” he adds.

Says SP Diwan of Premier Security Services, “We have been in the market for the last 31 years. Our image has never been tarnished. Some people are jealous of our success. When some security guards are transferred because of indiscipline or sleeping during the working hours, they join such unions to get back at us. There is no truth in these allegations.”