Overton warns against changing security guards' status

The leadership of the Jamaica Society for Industrial Security (JSIS) is warning that the cost of private security could be jacked up by yet another 40 per cent if the status of security guards is changed from subcontractors to employees.

Lt Cdr George Overton, president of the JSIS, said the change would place the nearly 17,000 guards employed by the 25 companies represented by the JSIS at a disadvantage, and could possibly lead to the collapse of the industry.

"The implications for changing from contractor to employee will mean a 40 per cent increase in the cost of security to the market, as anything over eight hours would require overtime rates that no client is willing to pay," said Overton.

Currently, under the sub-contractual arrangements, the private security guards work 12-hour shifts.

Overton said an eight-hour work programme constitutes unliveable incomes for the guards, based on the minimum wage set by the Government.

"They would not be able to work second jobs with a different security company to supplement their incomes as the Private Security Regulations Act prohibits that," he warned.