United Voice News
Victorian security industry a snake pit, guards warn
Security officers say shocking, unlawful practices exposed in an investigation by the employment watchdog released today are just the tip of the iceberg and are urging businesses to be extremely wary when using security contractors.
A Fair Work Ombudsman investigation found 13 of 26 security contractors randomly selected for audit were non-compliant with workplace laws, while 14 remain under investigation and may face prosecution.
Nationally, the investigation revealed a massive catalogue of rip-offs, with 652 security officers underpaid a total of $453,000.
Jess Walsh, State Secretary of LHMU, the Security Union, welcomed the investigation.
“This investigation confirms once again what our members have been telling us for years.”
“This industry is a snake pit full of cowboy contractors, large and small, who break workplace laws, rip off their employees and undermine professional standards,” she said.
“We have two staff working full time pursuing cowboy contractors like these, who members have reported to us for rip-offs, breaches and other abuses.”
“These are real people with families to support who are being hurt by these practices.”
“These practices also undermine the hard work of our members to introduce professional standards and improve the reputation of the industry.”
“There is a high road. The four biggest contractors, Wilson, G4S, MSS and ISS, who represent 80 percent of this industry, have signed on to our Victorian Security Industry Standard.
“That commits them to higher standards and working with us to clean up this industry.”
“They have committed to paying their staff fair wages and allowances and ensuring licensing and training requirements are met.”
“But these contractors are constantly being undercut by cowboy operators who engage in unlawful practices to lower their costs.”
“If businesses and community groups want to avoid being associated with these unlawful practices they should be very wary of which contractors they use.”
“We look forward to working with Fair Work Australia and other key stakeholders to stamp out these practices and clean up this industry.”
Read the report on the crackdown in today's Age.
