Private Security Companies Ordered to Halt Contributions to COTU, Atwoli Deals Blow
The union Central Organisation for Trade Unions (COTU) under the leadership of Francis Atwoli has faced a setback as the Private Security Regulatory Authority (PSRA) has directed security guards to stop making contributions to the union.
According to a statement released by PSRA’s CEO, Fazul Mahamed, private companies must halt their contributions, effective immediately.
PSRA pointed out that COTU has not fulfilled its duty to champion the rights of security workers, despite their substantial membership and contributions.
“Regrettably, notwithstanding their significant financial contributions, COTU has not lived up to its mandate and has persistently disregarded, declined, and/or neglected to advocate for their rights,” read the statement in part.
Moreover, the Authority criticized COTU for not guaranteeing that the private security personnel received the previously suggested minimum wage.
According to PSRA via Mahamed, private security personnel make up 1.3 million members of COTU.
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Fazul states that employees have a deduction from their pay ranging between Ksh150 and Ksh620, contingent on their salary bracket.
The regulatory body has announced it’s conducting an inquiry into the gathering and utilization of funds deducted from security personnel.
Therefore, PSRA asserted that its initial inquiries revealed that its members had collectively contributed billions of shillings to the union under Francis Atwoli’s leadership.
Additionally, PSRA cautioned private security companies that any organization discovered to be in breach of this directive in the future could face the revocation of their license.
“Any private security company that continues to deduct and remit the said fees to the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU), SHALL be subjected to a statutory review of its registration and licensing status by Section 32 of the Act,” explained PSRA.
This instruction follows the government’s refusal of the authority’s proposal to require security firms to compensate their employees with a minimum of Ksh30,000 per month.
Private Security Companies Ordered to Halt Contributions to COTU, Atwoli Deals Blow