Private Security Firms Given 7 Days To Implement New Minimum Wages

NAIROBI Kenya January 29 -Private security firms have been given a week to commit themselves to paying their guards the recently gazette new salaries.

The Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA) on Monday drafted a legal commitment form that the directors of each private security firm must sign, committing to pay guards operating within Nairobi, a basic minimum wage of Sh30,000 and Sh27,183 for those operating outside the Nairobi metropolitan area.

The move comes barely a month after PSRA also directed that compliance with the basic minimum monthly wages is now a mandatory requirement for all firms seeking to provide private security services in the country.

The notice by PSRA dated January 29 also warns that any private security company that fails to comply with the directive shall be subjected to a statutory review of its registration and licensing status in accordance with the law.

“Take notice that any private security company that fails to submit a duly signed and commissioned copy of the Legal Commitment within the next 7 days from the date of this directive shall be subjected to a statutory review of its registration and licensing status in accordance with Section 32 of the Act,” PSRA Director General Fazul Mahamed said.

The owners of the firms will be required to provide evidence of the same by availing a copy of the latest pay slips for its security guards.

Firms will not be able to hide the number of guards employed at their companies as the same list is required by the authority for registering and processing their Guard Force Numbers.

The move follows the government’s move to regulate the sector in recognition of its important complementary role in the management of security in the country amidst concerns that the new pay may not be viable and risks sending many firms into bankruptcy.

Under the new pay, the guards will receive sh18,994 as minimum pay, a house allowance of Sh2,849.11 and an overtime allowance of Sh8,156.81 totaling Sh30,000 per month.

The statutory deductions will be National Social Security Fund (sh1,080), Social Health Insurance Fund (Sh825), Pay as You Earn (Sh1,229) and an affordable housing levy of (sh450).

Under the new regulations, any employer violating the new regulations will be liable to a fine of Sh2 million.

The Authority has come up with a raft of measures to professionalize the industry and improve the welfare of the guards.

The government is also in the process of fully integrating the private security industry into the national security infrastructure.

This will enhance intelligence gathering, information sharing, crime detection and deterrence, crime scene protection and the collection and preservation of evidence.