14 Jan 2013

The Security Association of Botswana (SAB) says it will investigate allegations that some of its members failed to pay their employees full salaries in December.

The association’s chairperson, Mr Gaolatlhe Mudongo said the law stipulated that all employers should pay their workers full salaries when they break for Christmas and New Year holidays.

Mr Mudongo said failure to pay was a violation of labour laws, which could lead to prosecution and withdrawal of the security trading licence.

Mr Mudongo’s comments followed complaints by employees of various security companies who alleged that they were not paid full salaries in December because employers claimed that they were likely to abscond from work.

Mr Mudongo said his association had 100 members despite the 2 000 registered security companies. He urged more companies to register with the association.

He said many security companies were offering fly–by-night services and also exploited workers.

He said some of the companies operated from car boots and their office telephone numbers were cell phones which were often not working on pay days.

Mr Mudongo further stated that security companies had a significant role to play in crime prevention and policing.

The chairperson said most security companies paid their employees very late, adding that the association had on several occasions engaged the companies to pay their employees on time. BOPA