Labor dep’t looks into plight of security guards

MANILA, Philippines—After receiving many complaints, the Department of Labor and Employment is turning the spotlight on the plight of security guards who are not paid the required minimum wage and whose rights are often violated, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said Wednesday.

Baldoz said labor officials had met with the Philippine Association of Detective and Protective Agency Operators to address the “perennial problem of cut-throat competition” among private security agencies  that result in security guards getting the shorter end of the bargain.

“We are now solidifying the guidelines toward voluntary compliance of security agencies with general labor standards to ensure social welfare and protection of security guards,” Baldoz said in a statement. “We want to ensure that minimum rates prescribed by law for standard salaries and benefits for security guards will not be compromised by any form of undercutting practices.”

Baldoz said the problem was particularly significant among government agencies, which are among the largest procurers of private security services.

To win public biddings for security services in government agencies, some security agencies offer bids that are “way below that mandated contract rate,” and it is the security guards that suffer.

“Consequently, minimum wages and other benefits of security guards are affected—reduced by the winning bidders—to make up for the reduced fee,” Baldoz said.

“This ‘race-to-the bottom’ practice is detrimental to security guards. With a benchmark on the agency fee or administrative overhead, which is part of the security contract, we are setting a standardized baseline and lowest possible rate in any security services bidding, be it a government or non-government client,” she said.

“Hence, no undercutting practice will be allowed,” Baldoz added.

The labor chief said there was a need to educate the owners and managers of private security agencies and service companies on labor-related requirements “to lessen violations on minimum wage laws and other statutory provisions on wage and benefits.”

“Education on labor laws is a must not only for labor standards and occupational safety and health standards compliance, but also towards industry self-governance,” Baldoz said. –Philip C. Tubeza, Philippine Daily Inquirer