Difficulties and problems private security companies face sans level playing field
Industrial security companies known as private security are faced with many problems and issues and they need the immediate attention of the state. There are approximately 66-70 thousand employees in this trade. The problems are many as seen below:
1. Very poor wage, even below of an office peon, when they are entrusted with public and private property valued at millions of rupees.
2. This is an essential service like medical, police and armed services and they must be entitled to postal voting
3. The standard of education according to the Private Security Agencies Act No 45 of 1998 gives the basic education to be 5th standard. It should be revised to at least 10th grade or those who have sat for the Ordinary Level [not necessary to have passed ]
4. A security company should consist of a Commissioned Officer of the Armed Services or a Senior Gazette Officer of the Police. Why can’t a Senior Inspector of Police with 15 years experience be eligible as he would have invariably being in charge of a Police Station, conducted investigations and court prosecutions and have an unblemished record?
We are surprised to learn that;
5. Despite government regulations and circulars requiring all security companies which came under the perview of the Ministry of Defence to wear one particular uniform designed by the Ministry of Defence, this rule was boldly defied by a security company called RAKNA LANKA which provided security to House of Fashion, Colombo 8, and Lanka Hospital. Their employees wore uniforms similar to the Air Force. It is pertinent to mention that they had preferential treatment in this industry of security.
6. Avant Gard Security was given preferential treatment over the Sri Lanka Navy or any other government organisation of procuring arms and handling international criminals. They have in fact gone to the extent of hiring former Navy senior officers and retired senior Police Officers and according to unconfirmed information this company about six or seven years ago was prosecuted by the Labour Department for the non payment of EPF and ETF amounting to approximately Rs. 14 million. How such a company got their licence is a matter of concern.
All security companies should be given equal treatment and permitted to conduct their business on a level-playing field. We certainly hope the new administration will take appropriate steps to summon all security companies and listen to their grievances at a suitable venue sooner or later.
F.N. de Alwis
Colombo