Private security firms given seven days to implement Sh30,000 minimum wages

The Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA) has issued a 7-day ultimatum to private security companies to commit themselves to paying their guards the newly gazette salaries.

In a memo on Monday, Director General Fazul Mahamed noted that companies that fail to surrender the legal commitment will have their registration and license reviewed.

“Any private security company that fails to submit a duly signed and commissioned copy of the Legal Commitment within the next 7 days from the date of this directive shall be subjected to a statutory review of its registration and licensing status by Section 32 of the Act,” reads the letter.

Fazul reiterated that the Authority has a mandate to set standards and ensure compliance with minimum wage requirements for private security officers.

He added that all private security companies must sign and submit a copy of the signed legal commitment to [email protected] as stipulated in Legal Notice No. PSRA/005/2023.

This comes after the Kenya National Private Security Workers Union-KNPSWU demanded all employers to immediately implement a minimum salary of Sh30,000 for all employees as set by the PSRA.

According to PRSA published regulations, a security guard should be paid a basic salary of Sh18,994.08, Sh2,849.11 for housing allowance, and Sh8,156.81 for overtime.

Last Year, Fazul noted that a person or companies who hire guards but underpay their monthly salaries will be subjected to Sh2 million fine.

“A person who hires, employs or otherwise engages the services of any private security service provider and pays or remunerates them below the mandated basic minimum wage prescribed herein commits an offence and shall be liable to a fine or both such fine and imprisonment in the case of a natural person and two million shillings in the case of a corporate,” he said.

In addition, the Authority also ordered a worldwide registration, licensing, and issuance of Guard Force Numbers (GFN) to individual private security service providers such as private security guards, corporate security officers, and all other persons providing security services.

“A person who operates as a private security service provider without being the holder of a valid training certificate from an institution accredited by the Authority; and/or operates as a private security service provider without being registered by the authority in accordance with the provisions of the act commits an offence and shall be liable to a fine or to both such fine and imprisonment in the case of a natural person and two million shillings in the case of a corporate,” Fazul said.

The Private Security Regulatory Authority is a Government Agency established under Section 7 of the Private Security Regulation Act No. 13 of 2016 and is charged with the responsibility of regulating the Private Security Industry in accordance with the Act and the values and principles set out in the Constitution.