New regulations to ensure better pay for security guards

JEDDAH: Vice Chairman of National Committee for Security Guards and Chairman of the Security Guards Committee at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce Dr. Abdullah Ali Al-Shihri confirmed new regulations regarding the work of security guards has been raised to higher authorities for issuance soon.
The regulations include changing the job title of employees in the sector from “security guard” to “civilian security man.”
He said the new regulations provide addition benefits to civilian security guards, including allowances, privileges and training.
A series of joint workshops and studies with the Public Security Fund and Human Resources Development Fund led the committee to amend the regulations in order to address issues of low salaries that do not provide job security.
Salaries, which do not exceed SR2,000 to SR3,000 are not sufficient, he said, noting that the new regulations and competition among companies will not allow companies issuing low salaries to continue in the market.
As for the number of companies operating in the market, Al-Shihri said the number of issued licenses from the Ministry of Interior for civil security guard companies is more than 400, while the number of public institutions in the market is around 300.
The number of employees in the sector working as security guards, supervisors, and administrators is 200,000, he said, 80 percent of whom are Saudi nationals.
The new regulations will require a 100 percent Saudization rate, he confirmed.
He called for more attention by investors and relevant government organizations to developing the sector through more investment, and necessary facilities and support services.
He said many of the investors who entered into the activity after obtaining licenses had the goal of only generate maximum profits, and thus handed over their business to people who are not qualified to manage the sector, and who are ignorant of regulations.
Al-Shirhri said the committee is hosting a forum for the security guard sector in the Makkah region on Aug. 2, 2016.
Representatives from the Jeddah police department, Ministry of Labor and Social Development, Hadaf, and the national committee will attend to discuss challenges facing the sector and means of developing it in the future, as well as the support offered by government agencies to the sector.