BY ADMORE MARAMBANYIKA

Security guards are crying foul over provisions of Statutory Instrument 58 0f 2024 which are threatening to pauperise them owing to very low tariffs for service charges.

In a letter to the Minister of Home Affairs Kazembe Kazembe, the Zimbabwe Security Guards Union (ZISEGU), called for an upward review of tariffs to enable employers to pay better wages.

“It is our humble request that your esteemed office assist in the plights of security guards such that we avoid violation of workers’ rights in Zimbabwe. The issue of low wages in the security industry is protected by the international laws such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 23(3) and section 65 (1) of the Zimbabwe constitution. Security guards as employees deserve a fair living wage that guarantees a decent life which is dignified and that they avert exploitation,” said Phillimon Nhema, ZISEGU General Secretary.

The union said the low tariffs make it impossible for employers to pay a living wage.

“As such if employers are being paid in accordance with SI58/2024 a paltry minimum of USD365-00 for a 24 hour cover contract guard day and night means a minimum of three guards and therefore USD365-00 divided by three is equal to a bit less than USD122-00 and such it will force employees to reduce their employees’ wages due to the fact that an employer cannot operate in a business that is not profitable,” he said.  

Nhema said the statutory instrument was inconsistent with the current collective bargaining agreement therefore renders the hopes and aspirations of the fastest growing industry into serious jeopardy.

“The latest CBA ‘turned’ the minimum wage to USD210-00 inclusive of allowances. This was scafolded on that the agreement is reviewed in the firsrst week of October 2024.   Thus the SI58 of 2024 is inconsistent with the current collective bargaining agreement therefore renders the hopes and aspirations of the fastest growing industry into serious jeopardy,” said Nhema.

Nhema said Zimbabwe security guards are the least paid in the region hence the need for urgent attention to their plight.

“Zimbabwean private security guards are the most exploited workforce aross the sub-Sahara region. In South Africa the same profession attracteds 4521.70 rand as of February 2024, in Botswana thev same is paid 45.60 pula per day while Zambia pays 2313.10 kwacha per month inclusive of allowances,” he said.

Nhema added that the plight of security guards was compounded by the fact that the sector has no pension fund apart from NSSA and the guards do not have any other benefits compared to their counterparts under the Ministry of Home Affairs.