Maayos na employment terms, benepisyo sa mga security guards

ISINUSULONG ni Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte ang pagpapabuti sa kapakanan ng mga security guards at iba pang miyembro ng private security industry sa pamamagitan ng pagtatalaga ng ilang probisyon ukol sa kanilang employment, working conditions at benepisyo.

Kasama si Benguet Rep. Eric Yap, ipinanukala nina Duterte na mabigyan ang mga security guards at private security personnel ng minimum wage; service incentive leave at iba pang benepisyo na tinatanggap ng regular employees, kabilang na ang overtime pay, social security,  13th month pay, at retirement benefits.

“While they put their lives on the line for the protection of establishments and of the general public, these security personnel are deprived of the same protection from their employers in terms of salary and benefits,” pahayag nina Duterte at Yap sa panukalang Magna Carta o House Bill  5493.

Kadalasang nagtatrabaho ang mga security guards at iba pang private security workers ng mahabangoras, hindi sapat na sahod at maging pang-aabuso mula sa kanilang principals at security service contractors (SSCs).

Sinabi ni Duterte na kung matatandaan, noong Nobyembre 2022, 12 security guards  sa Davao Oriental  ang ginawaran ng P1 million money claims ng Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

“This is unacceptable considering that security guards and other private security personnel are exposed to risks that could endanger their lives. They are even considered as  ‘force multipliers’ in places with limited police presence. They deserve to be treated better,” Duterte said.

Sa panukala, ang mga security guards at iba pang private security personnel  ay mabibigyan ng regular employment status matapos makumpleto ang probationary period ng hindi lalagpas sa anim na buwan.

Maging ang isyu ukol sa paulit-ulit na hiring-firing-rehiring pattern ng mga SSCs ay ikukunsiderang regular employees kapag ang ginagawang pamamaraan ay may sumang 6 na buwan.

Nakapaloob pa sa panukalang Magna Carta ang karapatan na kinabibilangan  ng “safe and healthful working conditions that ensure appropriate rest for them and protection from abusive treatment; labor standards,  such as but not limited to,  service incentive leave, premium pay, overtime pay, holiday pay, night shift differential, 13th month pay, and separation pay; retirement benefits; social security and welfare benefits; right to self-organization and collective bargaining; at security of tenure.

Ipinagbabawal din ang diskriminasyon sa sinumang private security worker dahil sa kasarian, civil status, creed, religious o political beliefs at ethnic groupings. (Ara Romero)