FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE     CONTACT: Christy Hoffman, +41797699061 

 

Probe Seeks Further Information on Conditions at Africa’s Largest Multinational Employer

Trade union leaders, academics, human rights attorneys and leaders of prominent British NGOs will visit with security workers employed by Group 4 Securicor in Malawi as part of a fact-finding mission to Southern Africa.

"We're concerned that Group 4 Securicor is a roadblock for Malawi guards who are struggling to lift their families out of poverty," said Christy Hoffman of UNI Property Services Global Union which helped organize the delegation.

A recent survey by University of Malawi Professor Thokozani James Ngwira paints a disturbing portrait of life for the 10,000 guards employed by Group 4 Securicor in Malawi.

Keeping guards impoverished

Ninety-five (95) percent of the guards surveyed said their pay barely covers rent and food. Other necessities and school fees for their children are out of reach.

Guards are required to work 12 hours a day at least six days a week. Instead of increasing the hourly pay for the 4 hours of overtime each day, Group 4 Securicor reduces their wages by half for every hour after 8. Group 4 claims that this is allowed under Malawi law- but nevertheless it violates the company’s own stated policy of terms and conditions with the workers, an agreement which is required under Malawi law.

Nighttime guards told Ngwira that beginning December 2006 through February 2007 they were required to work everyday of the month-- 84 hours per week. And they were not properly compensated for those hours.

The delegation will meet with workers in Blantyre trade union leaders, government officials and clients of the security firm.

The delegation is also traveling to Mozambique and South Africa.

A full list of delegates is below:

War on Want, Jackie Simpkins

International Centre for Trade Union Rights, Ijeoma Omambala

London School of Economics Professor John Logan

Transport and General Workers Union, Dave Ritchie

Ver di, Peter Bremme

Service Employees International Union, Gerry Hudson, Bill Ragen

Human rights attorney Ashwini Sukthankar

UNI Property Services Global Union, Christy Hoffman

UNI Africa Fackson Shameda

Background on Group 4 Securicor

Group 4 Securicor has its headquarters just outside of London and is the UK’s largest multinational. The firm employs more than 82,000 workers in 18 African nations. It is not only large but it's also growing. This year it has purchased firms in Mozambique and South Africa. In 2006 it took over the operations of a Malawi firm, Safetech.

The company provides an array of services to multinationals operating on the continent including banks, oil and gas companies, mining operations as well as international organizations and embassies. The wealth gap has created a market for the firm's security services in residential neighborhoods in major African cities.

About UNI Property Services Global Union

UNI Property Services Global Union is an organization of labor unions from around the world which represent cleaners and security workers, some of the world's most low paid and vulnerable workers.

Earlier this year, UNI Property Services launched a legal aid fund for African workers. The goal is to link African cleaning and security workers whose rights have been violated with attorneys. The fund, “African Workers Rights NOW” will provide remuneration to attorneys who agree to take workers’ cases.

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