Security firm taken to court for underpaying workers

Dec 19, 2013 News

Management of Strategic Action Security Service is once again in hot water, this time for violating the minimum wage order since 2012. Two others are being prosecuted for not adhering to the new minimum wages order introduced in July 1, last.
This was according to Labour Minister, Dr. Nanda Gopaul, during his year-end press conference yesterday. He said that a major concern for the Ministry is that three private security firms, Strategic Action Security Service, Homesafe Security Services and Supreme Security Service are non-compliant with the minimum wage order.
The Minister said that Strategic Action Security Service has been found guilty of not even paying the minimum wage that was introduced in 2012. He explained that for years Government introduced minimum wage in certain sectors while others such as security were given a minimum wage. The firm was non-compliant with that order and owes hundreds of millions of dollars, he said.
“We are pursuing prosecution…We have 19 cases filed against them…And, we intend to file cases for all the workers who have not been paid,” Dr. Gopaul said.
According to Dr. Gopaul, whilst this matter is being pursued by the Ministry’s in-house lawyer it will be soliciting assistance from the Attorney General Chambers and the Director of Public Prosecutions. If help is not forthcoming the Ministry would have to recruit a private lawyer with the skills to help prosecute the company.
“Too many workers have been underpaid by this company and we are not going to let it go easily… Judging from what has taken place by Strategic Action Security Service they have a lot of money to pay workers. They have not been compliant since 2012 and hundreds of millions of dollars owe workers,” he stressed.
Earlier this year, police swooped down on Strategic Action Security Service Queenstown head office, where a number of stolen articles were found. The matters were taken to court.
Commenting on the other two firms, Dr. Gopaul said there are pending cases against Homesafe Security Services and Supreme Security Service. As such, these companies are on the Ministry’s radar. The matters would be personally monitored by the Minister so that employees could receive their pay.
Though the Ministry cannot determine what criteria the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board uses whilst evaluating contracts, it will be informing the board about the charges against the companies.
Full-time workers outside the Public Sector should be paid no less than $35,000 monthly, $8,000 weekly, or $200 (US$1) per hour. In addition, employees should only work 40 hours per week with overtime paid for services provided beyond.

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Security firm taken to court for underpaying workers

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