Security companies welcome minimum wage increase for security guards

By Kimone Witter    

 

Security companies under the Jamaica Society for Industrial Security (JSIS) have welcomed the increase in the minimum wage for industrial security guards.

 

Security guards will see their weekly rate move from $14,000 to $15,000 as of June 1.

 

The increase was announced on Thursday by Prime Minister Andrew Holness, who also said the national minimum wage would move from $13,000 to $15,000 per 40-hour work week.

 

JSIS President Major Richard Reese has said he would support an annual increase of the minimum wage. 

 

"In the past, successive governments have neglected to have timely increases, and as seen in the recent past, had significant adjustments, which had a negative impact on the industry in terms of the clients. So an annual increase or review, especially in relation to an inflationary economy is timely," he suggested. 

 

 

Donovan Wignal, President of the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises Alliance, said a significant number of small businesses are already paying their minimum wage employees $15,000 and higher.

 

Mr. Wignal said this was done based on the current economic conditions and the need to retain workers. 

 

"If they are not feeling that they are getting paid well enough, they're going to seek employment elsewhere. And we are aware of our current situation of employment. You know, finding staff is very difficult sometimes and retaining your staff is also a challenge, so we have to pay a reasonable wage so that our staff stays with us."  

 

But he said other employers who were struggling to meet the previous increase of $13,000 will be hard-hit when the new increase takes effect. 

 

"When the minimum is increased, whether you're a security guard or otherwise, the employer has to find that additional income, additional revenue to pay for the increase.... But at end of the day, be that has it masy, it has already been done...so we just now have to be creative in how we handle this current nuance to the economic landscape," he reasoned.