A row between the Private Security Firms and Central Organisation Trade Unions (COTU) has widened with the local security providers directed to stop remitting monthly deductions.
It is a blow to the trade union following the directive to stop deduction of the private guards’ salaries.
In a circular to the private security firms, by the Private Security Regulatory Authority CEO Mr Fazul Mahamed says the decision was made following complaints from various companies.
“Therefore, pending conclusion of the investigation, all private security companies are hereby directed to effective immediately stop deducting and remitting private security officers’ trade union fees to the Central Organization of Trade Unions, COTU Kenya,” Mahamed’s.
“Notably, private security officers constitute a large percentage of COTU’S membership and despite their low salaries have faithfully contributed trade union fees to COTU for decades,”.
The CEO said they have initiated an investigation into the complaints raised by the guards “Preliminary investigation by the Authority has confirmed that indeed private security officers have made significant contributions to COTU in the form of monthly trade union fees – preliminary estimation puts this figure in Billions of Shillings,” he says.
“It regrettable that with contributions, COTU has not lived up to its mandate and has persistently disregarded, declined, and/or neglected to advocate for their rights, advocate for compliance with minimum wage, and promote their general welfare,” The Authority says the deductions will remain frozen until it says otherwise after conducting and completing the investigations.