Security guards to get better pay and training

Dubai regulator says the move will improve standards

DUBAI // Security guards in Dubai will be given a pay rise and better training thanks to a new law, said the emirate’s Security Industry Regulatory Authority (Sira) yesterday. Under Law 12: 2016, basic monthly salaries will rise to Dh1,920 from Dh1,440.

Companies will also be required to provide security guards with better procedure and fitness training.

Under a federal law passed in 2008, the basic monthly wage of security guards in Abu Dhabi and other emirates rose to Dh2,800, drawing those working in Dubai to go elsewhere for better pay.

At the Intersec security conference in Dubai yesterday, Khalifa Al Saleis, Sira’s executive director, said the lower salaries in Dubai would affect the standard of security in the emirate in the long term.

“We are looking to get better quality, and I am focused on making security guards proud to be in Dubai. But the industry needs time, that’s why we are doing it in steps,” he said.

From 2005 to 2008, security guards were paid Dh800 a month. Although the federal law passed in 2008 increased the basic pay, Dubai was unable to do so because of the financial crisis at the time.

“In other emirates, the number of security guards is small, so it won’t affect them that much. But for Dubai, the cost [of raising the pay] will be in the billions [of dirhams],” said Mr Al Saleis.

He explained that the security industry in Dubai raised the basic pay in increments because of the financial crisis.

The monthly salaries of more than 40,000 security guards in Dubai were later increased to Dh1,440 from Dh800. “Their basic salary was Dh1,200 plus 20 per cent security allowance,” Mr Al Saleis said.

“We have now increased that to 60 per cent and the deadline is at the end of the month.

“You want people to work and be content.

“Foreigners come here for salaries and to have a better life, so most good security guards in Dubai go to other emirates because of this.

“One of the largest industries in Dubai is security and it is one of the lowest paid.”

The emirate’s security infrastructure – including fire alarm systems and surveillance cameras at malls, hotels and banks – will also be upgraded.

Majed Ibrahim, Sira’s head of licensing and customer service, said it was looking to improve the fitness of security guards.

“We are improving the quality of security guards in Dubai. This is vital because Dubai is expanding and we want to increase the level of security for Expo 2020,” he said.

The training fee of Dh750 for security guards will remain unchanged.

“With security threats increas- ing, there is a higher level of training needed ” said Niyaty Jalal, an operations manager at First Security Group, which trained about 4,800 security guards in the emirate last year.

“But at the same time, we are looking for people with higher abilities to undertake the training.”

Peter B, a security guard who works with World Security at the Trade Centre, said he was happy about the pay increase. “I came from Uganda two years ago for money,” he said. “In our country, we would get about Dh300 a month as security guards. “We heard rumours about the increase but we don’t believe in rumours, so I’ll be happy when I see the extra amount at end of the month. “I always send money back home so I will now be able to send more.”

‘ I am focused on making security guards proud to be in Dubai Khalifa Al Saleis executive director, Security Industry Regulatory Authority