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St. Patrice Ennis, General Secretary of UTASP, and Teddylee Grey, President of Jamaica Association of Private Security
By Prince Moore
Labour Minister Karl Samuda is being taken to task over his lack of leadership on the matter involving the employment status of security guards.
Last September, the Supreme Court effectively ruled that security guards were employees and not independent contractors.
As such, they are entitled to benefits including paid sick, vacation and maternity leave.
Months later, some security guards are yet to start receiving the benefits they are entitled to.
St. Patrice Ennis, General Secretary of the Union of Technical, Administrative and Supervisory Personnel (UTASP), said Minister Samuda has shown no interest in the issue.
The union had been hoping the Labour Ministry would be more involved in ensuring the matter is fast-tracked, Mr. Ennis said, but it has received no response from the ministry despite sending "many letters".
Teddylee Grey, President of Jamaica Association of Private Security, has also expressed concern about the apparent lack of interest by the Labour Minister.
He, too, accused Mr. Samuda of not showing leadership, noting that the security officers will simply have to leave non-compliant companies and align themselves with those that are compliant, since the ministry is silent.
Mr. Grey and Mr. Ennis were speaking Wednesday evening on TVJ's All Angles.
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