By Patricia Mollyne Mataga
The Central Organization of Trade Unions, COTU (K) has dismissed a letter asking employers to stop remitting deductions from private security guards to them.
A letter by the Private Security Regulatory Authority had earlier this week asked employers to stop deducting money from security guards salaries.
The letter was signed off by authority’s Chief Executive Officer Fazul Mahmed.
But in a hard hitting response, COTU said the authority has no such powers.
“It must be remembered that COTU (K) is a free and Independent Trade Union that is neither regulated by PSRA nor any other Government Agency. As such the demands contained in the letter by PSRA can only be made by the union members and/or the respective union,” the union said in part of the statement shared by Secretary General Francis Atwoli.
“Further, the union dues COTU (K) receives from Private Security Workers, through their Union’s Affiliation to COTU (K), is as a consequence of a Gazette Notice by the Ministry of Labour, dated 2nd September 2016, considering the labour laws and the requirements of the constitution of COTU (K),” Atwoli added.
The long-serving trade unionist also accused the PSRA of been the greatest impediment to the enhancement of the rights and welfare of private security guards as COTU (K).
“PSRA has, for long, stood against the many reforms proposed by COTU (K) towards enhanced welfare of the Private Security Workers,” COTU said.
The umbrella trade union is now calling on Fazul to resign as the authority’s boss to resign for the right person to take over.
It also wants the Office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to expedite probe into Fazul’s alledged fake academic papers.
“Finally, in calling for the resignation, arrest and prosecution of Fazul Mahamed, we equally understand that Fazul’s term at the helm of PSRA is coming to an end and thus the increasing appetite for juvenile antics to gain prominence for another appointment,” COTU said.