Security guards will soon be smiling all the way to the bank once a proposal to have their salaries increased by more than 50 per cent is implemented.
The move will see a junior private security guard earn at least Sh30,000 in a move aimed at cushioning them from hard economic times.
The Private Security Regulatory Authority has rolled out plans to make it mandatory for the employers of the close to one million members who are security guards, to earn the minimum gazetted wage.
The regulations also say all guards must have Guard Force Number (GNF). GFN is the only proof that a Private Security Officer has been duly registered and licensed by the authority in accordance with the provisions of the law, a copy of a legal notice says.
Employers who fail to adhere to the requirements shall be liable to a fine or to both such fine and imprisonment in the case of a natural person, and Sh2 million in the case of a corporate.
According to a legal notice to be published by the authority, a junior guard will earn a gross pay of Sh30,000. PSRA director general Fazul Mahamed said the move is legally binding and his was to operationalise the law.
“This is the law and employers have to comply with it. It is meant to ensure the employees are comfortable for now,” he said.
In a draft pay slip provided by the authority, employers are supposed to pay guards a gross salary of Sh30,000.
This will increase depending on one’s rank and age at the employment place. Of this, the basic pay is pegged at Sh18,994, house allowance at Sh2,849, and overtime allowance at Sh8,156.
The statutory deductions will include National Social Security Fund Sh1,080, Social Health Insurance Fund Sh825, Pay As You Earn Sh1,229 and Affordable Housing Levy Sh450 which will bring the net pay to Sh26,4215.
This may also push some employers out of service. But Fazul said they all know what is required before being issued with practicing certificates.
He said some employers have been paying their guards unacceptable pay which compromises their work and lives.
Section 69 of the Private Security Regulation Act No. 13 of 2016, states that a person (including government institutions, agencies or bodies; and/or any individual, security companies, corporate entities, organisations, associations or any other entity recognised by law whether incorporated or unincorporated) who hires, employs or otherwise engages the services of any private security service provider, and pays or remunerates them below the mandated basic minimum wage, commits an offence.
PSRA is established under Section 7 of the Private Security Regulation Act No. 13 of 2016, to regulate the Private Security Industry in accordance with the Act and the values and principles set out in the Constitution of Kenya 2010.
The notice says in part, “Pursuant to Sections 6, 9 (c), 9 (o), 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25 of the Private Security Regulation Act No. 13 of 2016, the authority hereby notifies private security service providers, users of private security services and the general public the authority has commenced nationwide registration, licensing, and issuance of Guard Force Numbers (GFN) to individual private security service providers, who include but are not limited to private security guards, corporate security officers, and all persons providing private security services, either employed or otherwise engaged by government institutions, agencies or bodies and/or by any individual, security companies, corporate entities, organisations, associations or any other entity recognised by law whether incorporated or unincorporated.”
It adds it is a mandatory requirement for all individual private security officers (Private Security Guards) to undergo training in security matters in an institution accredited by the authority, as a prerequisite requirement for registration and licensing in accordance with Section 23 (2) (d) of the Act.
The law says a person who operates as a private security service provider without being the holder of a valid training certificate from an institution accredited by the authority, and/or operates as a private security service provider without being registered by the authority, commits an offence, and shall be liable to a fine or to both such fine and imprisonment in the case of a natural person, and Sh2 million in the case of a corporate. These are part of ongoing reforms in the sector aimed at making it more professional, Fazul said.
He added that they have bridged a missing link that had been there in the fight against crime, and hope with ongoing reforms things will be better.
Private security guards were seen as the missing link in the fight against crime in the criminal justice system.
But recent changes in their modus operandi have incorporated them. For instance, their operations are now centralised and monitored by the authority, who are able to know who is posted at what place and time.
The guards can liaise with police and other security agencies through the provided channels and get prompt feedback.“We are now players in the security sector.
We are the first contact persons in most cases and the reforms are aimed at ensuring things go as required,” Fazul said. The industry is currently undergoing several changes that are aimed at ensuring better pay and retention.
Fazul said they are in the process of developing a policy framework set to prioritise National Youth Service (NYS) training as a key consideration for employment by private security companies.
He said the move will partly help solve the challenge of huge unemployment among the trained NYS youth.
The policy will see to it that the private security officers absorbed into the sector are well-trained to handle different security threats.
“This is a win-win scenario for the private security industry, which will have easy access to a pool of skilled and professional personnel for employment, and for the government, which will see this as a synergistic engagement with huge potential for youth employment,” he said.
According to Fazul, it costs the government over Sh250,000 to train one NYS serviceman/servicewoman from admission to completion of their course and subsequent graduation.
Ironically, and at great cost to the taxpayer and the youth themselves, Fazul said the government-funded investment entailing rigorous 6-month paramilitary training, is underutilised.
Upon graduation, he said there is no established framework for the absorption, transition, placement and/or employment of the members of the NYS in either the private or public sector.
“This is despite the fact that the NYS programmes embody security, intelligence and paramilitary training that provides a prepared pool of highly competent, screened and vetted soldiers with a high level of discipline that translates directly into the requirements for entry into the private security industry,” he said.
He further emphasised that the deep penetration of PSOs into society, coupled with their daily interaction with citizens, strategically places the officers at the centre of raw intelligence, giving them unfettered access to a treasure trove of information vital to planning and other security measures.
The move was welcomed by the Kenya National Private Security Workers Union secretary general Isaac Andabwa, who said it was long overdue.“We are professionals who need much attention and care. This is good but we need more,” he said.
