Minimum wage ruling for security guards takes effect

[Sagat]

Published: Wednesday January 12, 2011 MYT 3:06:00 PM

Minimum wage ruling for security guards takes effect

KUALA LUMPUR: More than 100,000 security guards nationwide are expected to get a RM700 minimum wage by the end of this month, Labour Department director-general Datuk Sheikh Yahya Sheikh Mohammed said Wednesday.

He said the Government was standing by its earlier announcement that the minimum wage would be implemented, effective Jan 1.

If the guards did not get the new wages by Jan 31, they could enquire from their employers first, and if they still were unable to get it, they could report to the nearest labour department, he added.

Sheikh Yahya said the department had also met the Security Services Association of Malaysia and explained the Government's decision.

In an immediate response, the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) welcomed the announcement as this fulfilled one of the resolutions which the congress adopted at its triennial delegates conference last month.

MTUC vice-president A. Balasubramaniam said the resolution had called on the Government to implement the minimum wage for security guards without delay, adding that it should not succumb to pressure from employers.

Under the new wages scheme, the guards' take home salary would be RM1,200, including overtime. At present, their salaries were between RM450 and RM750, depending on the location they worked.

Meanwhile, most security companies said they were ready to implement the new salaries, "albeit reluctantly".

Eagle Eye Security chief executive officer K. Bahadur said his company would comply with the Government's decision and raise the salaries of its employees.

"We are already preparing the new salaries for our 200-odd employees," he said.

Another employer, who wished to remain anonymous, said his company could ill-afford the raise, but would comply as its licence was at stake.

"We need to renew our licence every year and if we do not comply, chances are it would not be renewed," he said. - Bernama

 

[Sagat]

Thursday January 13, 2011

100,000 security officers expected to get new salary by end of month

KUALA LUMPUR: More than 100,000 security guards nationwide are expected to get a RM700 minimum wage by the end of this month, Labour Department director-general Datuk Sheikh Yahya Sheikh Mohammed said.

He said the Government stood by its earlier announcement that the minimum wage would be implemented, effective Jan 1.

He said if the guards did not get the new wage by Jan 31, they could enquire from their employers first, and if they were still not being given the new salary, they could make a report at the nearest Labour Department.

Sheikh Yahya said the department had also met the Security Services Association of Malaysia and explained the Government’s decision.

In an immediate response, the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) welcomed the announcement as this fulfilled one of the resolutions which the congress adopted at its triennial delegates conference last month.

MTUC vice-president A. Balasubramaniam said the resolution had called on the Government to implement the minimum wage for security guards without delay, adding that it should not succumb to pressure from employers.

Under the new wage scheme, guards’ take home salary would be RM1,200, including overtime. At present, their salaries are between RM450 and RM750, depending on where they work.

Meanwhile, a random survey by Bernama showed most security companies were ready to implement the new salaries, “albeit reluctantly”.

Eagle Eye Security chief executive officer K. Bahadur said his company would comply with the government’s decision and increase the salary of its employees.

“We are already preparing the new salaries for our 200-odd employees,” he said.

Another employer who wished to remain anonymous said his company could ill-afford the raise, but would comply as its licence was at stake.

“We need to renew our licence every year and if we do not comply, chances are it would not be renewed,” he said. — Bernama