Can a security guard perform dual duties on two different sites? On one site, he works for 8 hours and then without any break, he does an 8-hour shift on the other site. Is this authorized? Does this action violate any government guidelines? An agency is involved in this, and some preferred guards are undertaking these additional duties.
From India, Jaipur
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From India, Jaipur
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This is absolutely illegal. Continuous 16-hour duty on a regular basis is not possible for any individual. It would result in a decline in service quality, necessitate overtime pay, and is not acceptable under current labor laws in India. Unfortunately, this is a common practice among many security agencies where security guards may agree to such arrangements in order to earn more money. This issue is a social problem that needs to be addressed promptly by the relevant authorities to prevent its continuance.
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From India, New Delhi
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409S K Bandyopadhyay (WB, Howrah) CEO - USD HR Solutions +91 98310 81531
From India, New Delhi
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Not at all acceptable and contractor is resorting to a very illegal practice, a clear violation of laws.
From India, Aizawl
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From India, Aizawl
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Dear Amit,
I wish before raising the query, you had asked the simple questions:
a) Where do the security personnel do their duty? The reply is they do their duties in an open environment. Yes, they may have a small outbuilding to assist their duties, but they cannot sit inside forever and they have to go on the rounds.
b) What is the nature of their duties? The reply is: since they work in an open environment, they are forever exposed to sunlight, rain, or cold in the winter. The night duties are challenging because when we enjoy the comforts of our blankets, they don't have this luxury.
c) What is the primary purpose of their duties? The primary purpose of their duties is to safeguard or protect the assets of the building. They are responsible for human and material security.
If the security personnel are told to work in their right earnest, the work becomes too arduous, and no security personnel can work beyond eight hours. Nevertheless, many or even almost all employers make them work for 12 hours, which is 1.5 shifts. This is because making them work for 12 hours has become almost a norm, and also getting the security guards has become difficult. Because of the lure of overtime (OT), today hardly a security guard agrees to work for eight hours.
In India, private security has become a big sham. They may not be trained properly on fire and safety. Their physical fitness is also questionable. Security guards are nothing but installed stooges. Ask them the basics of their duties, and they will not be able to tell you. Nevertheless, we Indians are so accustomed to living with pretensions that a collapse of the bridge kills more than 140 persons and still, it does not affect our moral compass.
Now from 12 hours, you wish to extend their duties to 16 hours. Keeping the legality of the decision apart, the decision will fail the principles of security itself. No human can work efficiently in an open environment after 12 hours. Therefore, such risks can be taken provided one is ready to compromise with the security assets.
Lastly, have you worked for 16 hours a day? If yes, then for how many days? Yours would be inbound duties. Therefore, the experiment is worth doing. The experiment will give you a perfect reply to your query!
Thanks,
Dinesh Divekar
From India, Bangalore
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I wish before raising the query, you had asked the simple questions:
a) Where do the security personnel do their duty? The reply is they do their duties in an open environment. Yes, they may have a small outbuilding to assist their duties, but they cannot sit inside forever and they have to go on the rounds.
b) What is the nature of their duties? The reply is: since they work in an open environment, they are forever exposed to sunlight, rain, or cold in the winter. The night duties are challenging because when we enjoy the comforts of our blankets, they don't have this luxury.
c) What is the primary purpose of their duties? The primary purpose of their duties is to safeguard or protect the assets of the building. They are responsible for human and material security.
If the security personnel are told to work in their right earnest, the work becomes too arduous, and no security personnel can work beyond eight hours. Nevertheless, many or even almost all employers make them work for 12 hours, which is 1.5 shifts. This is because making them work for 12 hours has become almost a norm, and also getting the security guards has become difficult. Because of the lure of overtime (OT), today hardly a security guard agrees to work for eight hours.
In India, private security has become a big sham. They may not be trained properly on fire and safety. Their physical fitness is also questionable. Security guards are nothing but installed stooges. Ask them the basics of their duties, and they will not be able to tell you. Nevertheless, we Indians are so accustomed to living with pretensions that a collapse of the bridge kills more than 140 persons and still, it does not affect our moral compass.
Now from 12 hours, you wish to extend their duties to 16 hours. Keeping the legality of the decision apart, the decision will fail the principles of security itself. No human can work efficiently in an open environment after 12 hours. Therefore, such risks can be taken provided one is ready to compromise with the security assets.
Lastly, have you worked for 16 hours a day? If yes, then for how many days? Yours would be inbound duties. Therefore, the experiment is worth doing. The experiment will give you a perfect reply to your query!
Thanks,
Dinesh Divekar
From India, Bangalore
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This is a reality done by the agency in collusion with the guards concerned. In my experience, I have seen that a gang of 20-25 guards coming from a locality and stay together, the guards do two-shift duty or 12-hour duty but their salary will be drawn on a single-duty basis. They do it continuously for two-three months and then they go home for a period equivalent to their extra days earned. They are paid for these days. On paper, the arrangement looks perfect and smooth.
The nature of the duty of these guards would be light, mostly sitting and occasionally dozing off. It is physically not possible to do 16 hours of continuous strenuous duty. Obviously the arrangement is illegal and improper.
From India, Mumbai
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The nature of the duty of these guards would be light, mostly sitting and occasionally dozing off. It is physically not possible to do 16 hours of continuous strenuous duty. Obviously the arrangement is illegal and improper.
From India, Mumbai
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If the contractor agency deploys its manpower for double duties continuously, it is illegal. If the guards do an 8-hour duty as security guards and are relieved of their duty, they are free, and nobody can question what they are doing in their free time. However, for the sake of earning more money, guards choose to do double duties, etc. Contractors are bound by the law to provide services; hence, if it is found that their guards are doing double duties, it can be termed as illegal.
Having said this, it is important for the Principal Employer (PE) to ensure desired quality in services through the implementation of strict procedures and measures on the contractor. Security services have become more of a fashion than a profession. A good guarding system requires guards who are trained, verified, and controlled by the best operational procedures.
Moreover, the PE should opt to hire agencies that have a proven track record and pay according to the legal wage standards as per government notifications. Legal or unethical, the business of security services demands much more awareness and regulatory intervention, and I believe that PEs who hire security services have a greater role to play in this. Profiteering in the security business has tarnished the standards and decorum of security services, and both contractors and PEs are equally responsible for this. We may raise concerns about legal or illegal issues, but when it comes to business and money, people in security services often ignore their responsibility.
From India, Vadodara
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Having said this, it is important for the Principal Employer (PE) to ensure desired quality in services through the implementation of strict procedures and measures on the contractor. Security services have become more of a fashion than a profession. A good guarding system requires guards who are trained, verified, and controlled by the best operational procedures.
Moreover, the PE should opt to hire agencies that have a proven track record and pay according to the legal wage standards as per government notifications. Legal or unethical, the business of security services demands much more awareness and regulatory intervention, and I believe that PEs who hire security services have a greater role to play in this. Profiteering in the security business has tarnished the standards and decorum of security services, and both contractors and PEs are equally responsible for this. We may raise concerns about legal or illegal issues, but when it comes to business and money, people in security services often ignore their responsibility.
From India, Vadodara
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Really, I laughed at this question because in the IT sector, this is a common thing. People work one shift and never go home; they proceed to the next shift as well. When they are driven by the desire for money, why wouldn't the security guard be as well? There should not be one rule for one type of worker and a different rule for another type. There is no need to argue that one has to be awake. In both cases, both parties are required to be awake, and there is no superiority between them.
However, IT professionals can take breaks by calling their colleagues for coffee, snacks, or a restroom break, while security guards are deprived of even a glass of drinking water. They are at the mercy of someone else if they want to have a drink of water. They are also human beings, and the need for a restroom is a basic human necessity. How do you plan to address this issue?
During Covid, I read a news article and watched a video about a truck coming down the highway where a Lady Police Officer was stationed. She urgently needed to use a restroom at that time. The truck driver helped her by taking her to the nearest petrol station and then dropping her back at her duty point. We need to consider the human aspect and different perspectives in such discussions; failing to do so is a shame.
From Saudi Arabia
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However, IT professionals can take breaks by calling their colleagues for coffee, snacks, or a restroom break, while security guards are deprived of even a glass of drinking water. They are at the mercy of someone else if they want to have a drink of water. They are also human beings, and the need for a restroom is a basic human necessity. How do you plan to address this issue?
During Covid, I read a news article and watched a video about a truck coming down the highway where a Lady Police Officer was stationed. She urgently needed to use a restroom at that time. The truck driver helped her by taking her to the nearest petrol station and then dropping her back at her duty point. We need to consider the human aspect and different perspectives in such discussions; failing to do so is a shame.
From Saudi Arabia
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@Audnis,
You have rightly pointed out the facts about how many hours a person can work and why people work extra hours, etc. Yet, there are various factors why duty hours have been restricted to certain hours by the laws. It is to avoid exploitation. However, as you said, everyone wants to earn more and has liabilities that compel them to work extra.
In the case of contractual work, people are often made to work extra, paid less for the additional work, and the benefits go to the contractor. In the case of security services, this is a serious issue as security is a sensitive matter. One cannot be on guard and alert always if they are doing double or triple duties at a stretch.
From India, Vadodara
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You have rightly pointed out the facts about how many hours a person can work and why people work extra hours, etc. Yet, there are various factors why duty hours have been restricted to certain hours by the laws. It is to avoid exploitation. However, as you said, everyone wants to earn more and has liabilities that compel them to work extra.
In the case of contractual work, people are often made to work extra, paid less for the additional work, and the benefits go to the contractor. In the case of security services, this is a serious issue as security is a sensitive matter. One cannot be on guard and alert always if they are doing double or triple duties at a stretch.
From India, Vadodara
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Double employment is restriction as per section 60 of factory act.
From India, Greater+Noida
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From India, Greater+Noida
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