THE Fiji Islands Security Employers Association (FISEA) is requesting a review of their sector’s minimum wage rate in light of what they say are their roles as third party industries.
FISEA president Vilikesa Raqio made the comments as suggestions of a $2.68 minimum wage rate emerged this week from Government’s review of the national minimum wage and the ten sectoral wages regulations.
The minimum wage for the security sector, based on the Wages (Security Services) Regulations 2015, is $2.51/hour
Mr Raqio said the FISEA was seeking a meeting with the Employment Minister to discuss a possible review.
He explained that while some foreign embassies were able to pay their security staff members beyond the minimum wage, there were other companies that were not as lucky.
Mr Raqio explained security companies were paid by third parties and after deductions were made and the security companies took their fees, the individual workers were left with little.
He said if security companies increased their charges for their services, their clients would choose to employ watchmen instead and cut them out.
Mr Raqio said two years ago they had made requests for a review of the security services wage guidelines, but this did not materialised.
He said these requests centred on a proposed minimum wage rate of $4.50/hour.
