KINGSTON, Jamaica- Despite widespread reports in the media of discontent among the nation’s security guards, Minister of Labour, Karl Samuda, has revealed that 85 per cent of the estimated 25,000 security guards have already signed new employment contracts with their various employers.

At the same time, Samuda disclosed that only 88 security personnel have lodged complaints with his ministry.

He was speaking Wednesday in the House of Representatives where he provided an update on the contentious issue, since a Supreme Court ruling that classified all security guards as employees rather than contract workers. The classification comes with full employment benefits including vacation and maternity leave where applicable.

Samuda noted that the job classification of security guards has been debated for decades.

“I empathise with the concerns of the security guards. Many are understandably concerned about how the new arrangements will affect not only their job security, but how they will impact considerations for the years of service already given. Bear in mind that many have been working for periods of 10, 20 years, or more,” Samuda said.

He urged security personnel who believe that they have been denied any worker-related benefits to attend any of the ministry’s offices islandwide to lodge a complaint or seek guidance.

“In fact, we have on record 88 security guards who chose to lodge formal complaints,” the minister added.

Samuda shared that following the Supreme Court ruling, several security guards have attended the ministry’s offices since March this year to seek guidance on whether they should sign new employment contracts. He noted that the complaints relate primarily to their previous years of service, vacation leave.

Continuing, Samuda said: “There are approximately 25,000 security guards employed in the country at this time. The fact is that, in spite of the concerns, 85 per cent of them have already signed their employment contracts.”

Samuda said all complaints lodged by security guards are being processed for amicable resolutions, as is done for all workers.

He said that in relation to the new employment contracts, all security guards are workers, and are therefore to be guaranteed vacation leave, sick leave, overtime, maternity leave where applicable, and all minimum standards for decent work in Jamaica.

According to Samuda, what is happening currently, is that there is talk broadly about the rights of security guards being violated.

“However, there are no concrete reports presented to the ministry outlining the rights that have been violated,” he stated.

He said he will be personally meeting with the security guards and companies to discuss their concerns and assist the parties to resolve the matters affecting them.

He pointed out that he has gone further to ensure better regulation of the industrial security sector by appointing a committee, led by Helene Davis-Whyte, the vice president of the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions, to establish a Joint Industrial Council for the regulation of the industry and protection of the security guards.