With reports of a large number of private companies, cinema halls and hotels terminating private security guards or keeping skeletal staff, the government has written to several industry bodies associated with private security asking them to adopt a “humane approach” and protect its workers amid layoffs during the lockdown across the country.
The Ministry of Home Affairs wrote to the Central Association of Private Security Industry (CAPSI), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci) , Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham), Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), International Institute of Security and Safety Management (IISSM) and Security Association of India (SAI). PC Guite, deputy secretary, said in his letter on March 23 to these bodies that the private security agencies may have been hit after malls, shops and other such establishments were closed.
“I would, therefore, urge the industry for empathy with its workforce, vital to its functioning and ensure that these workers continued to be treated on duty and paid accordingly,” Guite said.
India has been put under a 21-day complete lockdown across the country to stop the deadly coronavirus from spreading and closed down several public and private organisations. Among them are commercial, industrial and private establishments with certain exemptions.
Private security agencies have been exempted but with the closure of malls, shops and other places where private security is deployed, several people have been asked to stay home or even fired.
