…so that their outstanding wages can be processed

INTEGRATED Security Services (ISS), the security firm at the centre of protests in Regions Five and Six, on Saturday said the non-payment of some security officers attached to its company is a result of lack of documentation.

The firm made it clear that all outstanding payments will be made only when affected employees produce documentation requested by the company’s Human Resource Department.

ISS in a statement to the media accepted that some security workers have not been paid, but justified the company’s decision not to pay. The company said when it took over operations on December 1, 2017, it inherited the staff from a previous security firm. In keeping with the spirit of Christmas, those inherited security officers were paid by mid-December.

However, a review of the payments made then showed that several overpayments were made and that the Human Resource Department and the records of the Operations Unit varied from the payroll records.

“Payroll processed just about 800 payments, when HR and operations can account for substantially fewer employees. All of these departments in Georgetown rely on information provided by the supervisors in the two regions. But the claims sent to the Payroll Department did not match the files in the HR department or the timesheets in the Operations Unit,” the statement said.

Despite several requests, the sub-offices in Regions Five and Six failed to send the requested documents to the ISS main office located in Georgetown.

“The company regrets that these officers have not been paid for the year. But while the company understands the predicament of fathers and mothers who have their families to provide for, there are some standards that the company is just not willing to compromise.”
According to ISS, its management explained time and again that it cannot pay persons simply because their names have been recorded. The company said a verification process must be employed and the payments made in December were only as a result of the Christmas season.

“Still, the verification records were slow in coming to the head office,” Shemaine Pilgrim, General Manager, Integrated Security Services Inc, stated. She explained that Region Five supervisor Curtland Sobers had indicated that the security officers complained about having to provide their Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), National Identification Card and National Insurance Scheme (NIS) number.

Many of the affected security guards protested last week and have since downed tools until they receive their wages from the security firm. Complaints on the matter have reportedly been made to the Ministry of Social Protection’s Department of Labour. Many of the protestors were responsible for securing government buildings, including the Regional Democratic Council, Health Centres and schools.

The general manager said those employees who would have submitted their information and updated their files have since been paid and noted that those who protested recently have failed to provide their documentation. “As recent as Thursday, Sobers brought some more verification documents. They are being processed and those persons will be paid within a few days. The majority of Region Six workers have been paid,” ISS stated.

On Thursday last, a meeting was held with some of the workers and additional payments were made then. Those who are yet to submit their information were identified at the meeting and asked to submit their documents.
Pilgrim noted that many of the workers expressed frustration at having money deducted from their wages for NIS.

“It was explained to her [an employee] that deductions are being made from her salary to NIS and that it is illegal not to pay NIS. The entity also told her that in order to send her payment into NIS, the company has to get her NIS number. It was also explained to her that the company has to send in an entire schedule as NIS does not accept scattered information; and those who are still to submit their information are holding up the process,” the general manager stated.

ISS said too that it has “gone to lengths to facilitate the payments” made thus far, noting that the company makes payments through the bank, but most of the employees within the Berbice branch do not bank with Citizens’ Bank. As a result, ISS was forced to make cash-in-hand payments.

“But before resorting to cash-in-hand payments, discussions were made to the bank to have all the employees signed up. As a result of those engagements, the bank even waived the fee attached to opening the accounts. Three consecutive Saturdays, Citizens’ Bank representatives travelled to Berbice to facilitate sign-up, but few employees took advantage of the opportunity.”

The company said it is frustrated by the non-cooperation of its inherited workers and notes that since it started operations, it has never encountered such problems.
“The company also has Region Four operations. It never encountered such problems. All Region Four employees have been paid,” the statement said. ISS made it clear that it is committed to its motto: Quality People, Quality Training, Quality Service and will not deviate from its commitment to honest and transparent operations.

“Despite apparent attempts to stymie smooth operations, the company will try its best to iron out the kinks in its Berbice operations,” ISS said, while reiterating its commitment to pay all employees who make their documentation available for verification.