The inhuman treatment of security guards
The abuse of security guards is nothing new in Qatar. Security guards are amongst the most put upon, abused and exploited categories of workers. There have been reports of devious schemes created by security companies to exploit their guards for their own ends. Conditions of work, in some cases are downright deplorable. Guards are often required to remain at post for as many as more than 12 consecutive hours, hungry and exhausted. At the end of the pay period, many of them find that they are unable to meet even their most basic living expenses.
The relationship between some security guards and their employers is often underpinned by some of the worst forms of exploitation. Their basic salary mostly is QR 450 and get a maximum of 1200 riyals for 12hr/31 days without any off(this is too by a multinational firm and the no-1 security company).Incentives that are added to that minimum wage. In the absence of those incentives, however, security guard has to work for a period in excess of one hour in order to be able to afford 1 riyal's juice!There is a dimension of sheer callousness to the manner in which some security outfits treat their guards.
There are cases in which a guard, having worked continually for twelve hours, is then asked to ‘help out’ by working for an extra period. The guard agrees (to refuse would probably mean dismissal), is caught sleeping by a patrolling supervisor during his 12th or 13th consecutive hour on duty and is cited, charged and money from his ‘salary’ are deducted. It is an exercise in both deceit and dishonesty designed to create the impression that guards’ meagre wages are usually ‘topped up’ when the real truth is that much of what is ‘offered’ on top of their basic pay is often reclaimed by their employer through an insidious regimen of offences and penalties.
It is not simply a matter of ensuring that the guards remain awake on the job. There are reports that patrolling supervisors are instructed to ‘find ways’ of catching guards asleep; that is to say that they must report a certain number of ‘sleepers’ every day in order that at least a portion of the payment never enters the guard’s pocket. In effect, some Checkers are required to lay dubious sleeping charges against guards.
The ministry should regulate security companies and give relavant training to handle disaster situations and a minimum wages act for security guards,is the only way to solve the problems of poorly paid security guards,for let live them as humans!!
I think as there is regulations on immigrations law and documentations , The State should please give a specific regulation on AMOUNT to pay as Salary to any level of work expecialy labourers & security and all + like accomodation ,feeding ,transportation included in good conditions with effect so any EMPLOYING VIOLATORS should be procecute accorodingly... because the image of this country outside world is shown as young and vibrant so no brutal and selfish employer should treat fellow human bad...
Labourer & Security jobs can be make attractive and professional and make here exceptional in the world in hiring workers.
QATAR is Good for Living I believe Always!
Sponsorship laws have a lot to answer for. They abolished slavery to sneakily replace it with something that is in essence slavery
Its human trafficking pure and simple and they have this so called sponsorship laws to justify the stupid practices
I feel for these guards, it really is sad.. Especially if you see a group of laborers walking more the 10 kilos in the heat to get to there camp.
Read my above comment that was for 'force1' plus...
What do you have to say for about 10 QL members who are never tiring to post comments [ 24/7 ] while on duty.
Are you afraid to say any thing against proud people or are you of their kind too ?
That goes against the people who's stomach is full, take big fat salary, live lux-life & total disregard for fellow humans.
Just no one will ever help on this.
Slavery is rampant in all fields
All True!!
Supply companies usually take three times the money from the clients as they pay to the guards. So, why don't the clients ask for well trained people?
Also, is there a legislation that security personnel shall have a minimum level of training...like managing emergency situations, fire fighting, shall know rescue techniques, first aid knowledge etc.
Few companies in the business of providing security to clients are playing in a monopolistic market. Consequently, neither they are checked by the prevailing quality norms in the business nor governed by any legislation or code.
Sadly, neither the market nor the state legislation is helping the overall situation of clients or the guards in question.
I heard those who work in Qatar Airways buildings get about 1500 QAR and stay in good accomodation. True or false?...
But the think is,even they came doha,if they receive salary not same as mention by their agents,they can file a case,dont u think so?
Pure slavery.
the sponsorship and NOC just turn them into slaves; if they (or i) get fired, than we will have no alternatives but to go back home and rot in poverty. whereas, if they could just change job, they will.
since they can't, they will be slaves to the wishes of their sponsor. if he tells them seal exits, they will. turn alarm spinglers off, they will too. don't report the fire in the news, and we get what happened on 28th.
Exploitation , but sadly it's also a case of supply and demand ..
that is the sad reality..helpers, laborers, construction workers are all experiencing the same...QR50 weekly food allowance are topping their salary plus a free accommodation in a porta cabin with an aircon barely work with 10 people each receiving QR650/month basic salary...it sounds good to hear, food and accommodation provided...
absolutely correct! they are treated inhumanly by inhuman managers with "very low salaries". and who are the managers of these security companies?
a bitter truth....yes they are overworked, underpaid,threatened and punished.....
It IS indeed human trafficking. But I'm not sure about blaming the sponsorship system. Who is going to hire these workers for more money if they are so unskilled?
Mandi
But some guys like to play video games, read and talk over the phone in midnight in uniform, rather than work in the hot sun or as labourers and earn a bit more..
All sad and true but these people have no voice. Even their embassies are taking back handers to maintain the status quo
human trafficking :(
... and the sponsorship law
:(
force you have explained it in a very good manner.
The simple fact is that it s all about profit.. These companies make lots of money through exploitation of people.
Its a funny notion to expect them to work as security guards and then to pay them the salaries of labourers. Its clear as daylight that you are getting what you are paying for
A lot of ppl on here will claim "the guard should not have accepted the job offer for such low pay, and the fact that he did leaves him responsible".
But I want to make sure people understand how these people are hired. In their home town, an employment agent promises them wages of around 2,000QR per month. These guards have to pay the agent a sum to secure the job (around 10-20k QR).
The person thinks, that's only 5-10 months salary once I start working, I should be able to pay it off, if I work for 5 years. And I'll still come back home with a lot of money. He takes a loan in his home country (thru loan sharks) and decides to secure his job.
He comes to Qatar, find out his salary is actually 500QR. Can't go back because the loan sharks will kill him and his family. And because he doesn't have his passport.
He's stuck here, with nothing much he can do.
And this happens to a majority of the low-class workers in the middle east. Not only security guards. We're talking laborers, cleaners, gardeners, etc.
It happens a lot more than we think. I do my best to tip these poor fellows whenever I have the opportunity to do so. I hope other people do the same.
A very bitter truth .