PSRA Bans COTU Salary Deductions from Private Security Guards' Salaries

 

The Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA) has issued a directive ordering all private security firms to cease deducting and remitting security guards’ monthly trade union fee contributions to the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU).  Francis Atwoli, the secretary-general of COTU (l) and PSRA CEO Fazul Mohamed, in a past event with security guards.  According to a press release seen by TUKO.co.ke, PSRA argued that private security guards have dutifully contributed monthly trade union fees, ranging from KSh 150 to KSh 600, to COTU despite their modest wages and absence of representation by COTU. Why PSRA wants COTU union fees halted PSRA raised concerns over COTU’s efficacy in advocating for the rights, compliance with minimum wage regulations, and general welfare of private security guards.  The press release signed by PSRA CEO Fazul Mahamed faulted the Francis Atwoli-led COTU for not living up to its mandate to represent workers and actively advocate for their social and economic welfare. "Notably, private security officers constitute a large percentage of COTU'S membership and despite their low salaries have faithfully contributed trade union fees to COTU for decades. Regrettably, notwithstanding their significant financial contributions, COTU has not lived up to its mandate and has persistently disregarded, declined, and/or neglected to advocate for their rights, advocate for compliance with minimum wage and promote their general welfare," said PSRA.  PSRA investigating how COTU used billions This directive follows complaints from security guards regarding the utilisation of funds and the failure of COTU to address their welfare issues. PSRA has initiated an investigation into COTU’s handling of security guards’ contributions, which is estimated to amount to billions of shillings. "Preliminary investigation by the authority has confirmed that indeed private security officers have made significant contributions to COTU in form of monthly trade union fees - preliminary estimation puts this figure in billions of shillings. Therefore, pending conclusion of the investigation, all private security companies are hereby directed to effective immediately stop deducting and remitting private security officers' trade union fees to the Central Organization of Trade Unions," PSRA directed. Minimum wage for security guards in Kenya Earlier on TUKO.co.ke, PRSA mandated that private security officers with guard force numbers must be paid the gazetted minimum wage of KSh 30,000. PSRA director general Mohamed Fazul emphasised the necessity of the minimum wage at the launch of private security mass registration. Mohamed highlighted that security guards often work 12 hours a day and 72 hours a week, necessitating compensation for overtime. 

by  Elijah Ntongai