By Antynet Ford
The Private Security Regulatory Authority says some private security firms are yet to comply with a directive to pay their staff a minimum wage of Sh30,000.
PSRA said those who have not complied with the directive have until June 17 to do so, the authority said Monday, June 10.
According to the authority, a significant number of private security companies have formally submitted legally binding commitments to pay a government-set minimum wage of Sh30,000 for private security officers (security guards) by the legal instruments it published.
However, the CEO Fazul Mahamed said, despite numerous reminders, some private security companies have failed, declined, and/or refused to submit their duly signed and commissioned legal commitments.
“To ensure compliance with minimum wage regulations, the Authority shall proceed, without further reference or reminder, to exercise its powers under Section 32 of the Private Security Regulation Act No. 13 of 2016.”
“Consequently, any private security company that fails to submit a duly signed and commissioned Legal Commitment to pay the government set a minimum wage of Sh30,000 for Private Security Officers (Security Guards) by the close of business on 17th June 2024 will face immediate cancellation of their Certificate of Registration and subsequent deregistration from the register of licensed private security service providers.”
Fazul said the Authority shall be conducting periodic reviews of the compliance status of private security companies with the provisions of the Act.
PSRA set the basic minimum monthly wages for all private security guards operating in Kenya.
The minimum pay will be Sh18,994 with 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 (Sh1080), Social Health Insurance Fund (Sh825), Pay As You Earn (Sh1229.75) and affordable house levy (Sh450).
Mahamed has directed employers to comply with the directives warning that any employer who remunerates guards below the mandated basic minimum shall be liable to a fine of Sh2 million, according to the law.
The PSRA has also commenced nationwide registration, licensing, and issuance of Guard Force Numbers (GFN) to private security officers.
Those to be issued with the numbers include private security guards, corporate security officers, and all persons providing private security services, either employed or otherwise engaged by government institutions or agencies.
It is now a mandatory requirement for all guards to undergo training in security matters in an institution accredited by the Authority as a prerequisite requirement for registration and licensing by Section 23 (2) (d) of the Act.