The security guards of Metro Bus Service called off their protest after they were assured that their management (a private security company) will ensure timely release of their salaries. Security guards of a private security company contracted by the government and deployed at various stations of Metro Bus Service staged a protest two days ago against delay in releasing salaries on time and imposing heavy fines in case of theft at all of the stations. The Metro Bus service was suspended for hours as a result of the protest.
Later, the metro bus authorities directed the security company to resolve the issue. The security guards called off the protest after they were assured that the management would ensure timely release of their salaries. However, sources revealed that the security guards of Metro Bus Service have a long list of grievances against their management including persistent delays in their salaries, wages below the minimum wages fixed by the government of Punjab, heavy fines in case of absence from duty and no weekly holidays.
Colonel Obaid (Retd), General Manager Operations of 'Security 2000', the private security company providing security guards to Metro Bus, said the company releases salaries latest by 25th of every month; and added that salaries of security guards deployed at Metro Bus station range from Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000.
When asked why the salaries to guards are below minimum wage of Rs 13,000 set by the government, he said the company gives Rs 8,000 to 10,000 to those employees who perform their duty for eight hours, while company is paying Rs 13,000 to those whose duty hours are 12 hours.
A senior official of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) said under the private security company's ordinance, security companies are bound to provide adequate training to security guards, as well as modern equipment and minimum wage. However, he acknowledged that due to absence of proper checks and balances on private security companies, most of the security companies are openly violating rules and regulations in the federal capital. He also said that the security companies are not only paying salaries below the minimum wage but are not paying them on time. "Salaries are below the minimum wage of Rs 13,000 fixed by the government," he added.
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