Paying security guards higher wages

The life of security guards working in different places including at ATM booths, corporate offices and residential buildings is miserable. The offices through which they are recruited exploit and hugely underpay these guards, while forcing them to work under inhuman conditions. A recent survey conducted reveals that all security guards deployed in Dhaka city at a 12-hour shift receive a meagre salary of more or less Tk 15,000 with no social security or medical leaves. Those who work for an 8-hour shift do not get more than Tk 10,000. The security guards, who work at residential buildings, earn the same amount of money for an almost 24-hour shift per day. They can sleep only three to four hours a day.

The guards provide security to people and their valuables. It is impossible for a person to work a 12 to16-hour shift. Such a practice cannot continue in a civilised society. As a concerned citizen, I demand that all such guards be paid reasonably higher salaries and shorter working hours.

Afroza Sheikh,

Dania, Dhaka,

[email protected]