Crises have a way of reminding us of the essential nature of some of the services in society – such as private security. Our Government has publicly recognised private security as essential services, but the COVID-19 situation also exacerbated the challenges that the private security industry has been facing for many years. Now is the time for urgent relief to struggling businesses. But one can also draw the first lessons learned – beyond COVID-19, the essential character of private security must be recognised in public procurement practices and the ‘security continuum.’
While the country went into lockdown and brought public and economic life to a standstill, Central Association of Private Security Industry (CAPSI ) was calling for its sector to be recognised as essential services. This gave access to special ‘rights’ such as free movement of workers or access to join duties. Failing such recognition, many warned, would mean that the growing demand for private security services to ensure the protection of critical infrastructures, warehouses and supply chains, supermarkets and hospitals could not be dealt with.
Well-deserved recognition of the security sector: Private security a essential service
Thanks to the excellent work of State Chapters of CAPSI that almost all members – including private security companies and workers received the recognition they deserved for joining the frontline in the fight against the Coronavirus. CAPSI launched a social media campaign seeking public appreciation for security guards who are working in the most hostile health conditions. The campaign was well received – people started treating security guards with respect, and that raised the morale of security guards and supervisors. Corporate security managers are recognising them publicly for the rendition of their good services. The impact was so strong that a majority of security guards didn’t abandon their posts even under great family pressure during mass reverse migration from major cities to their villages.
Their performance not only helped the police forces in the day-to-day protection of people and property. They also helped in the protection of supermarkets, hospitals, health centres, and other services. With their support, the police also helped control/ stop the spread of the virus.
There cannot be a security continuum without pro-active engagement of public authorities, public-private partnerships in joint matters of interest, and public procurement of security services that is based on value, and not on low costs only. This has been a problem since the past decades when new threats posed challenges to public security, and it is a problem that weighs even heavier in times of crisis. Private security companies are not provided with the financial, human, and administrative tools to properly respond to the exceptional demand for the protection of critical assets at a time when security is key factor.
On the brighter side, the outstanding engagement of the sector including its businesses and workers, is still reported on by many media. Private security guards working under tough circumstances in hospitals, gated colonies, vital infrastructures, business establishments, supermarkets, and supply chains are recognised as everyday heroes, as many articles in popular newspapers and social media platforms highlight.
Further, private security continues to stay sideby-side to those who save lives in the healthcare sector and in hospitals all over the country. Most are unseen, a few receive specific attention.
Economic challenges
Still, many challenges remain – the most urgent one being for many companies to pay their workers and guarantee sufficient cash flow. Business activities during COVID-19 in many service segments have come to a complete standstill such as tourism, retail, entertainment, hospitality and event security.
While the EU and member states have massively vamped up their financial support structures to companies, many still fear the economic consequences of this crisis – which are diverse.
The way forward
So, while private security continues to protect the functioning of hospitals, industries, supply chains, malls etc., across the country, our sector and many companies will be hit hard by the crisis. It is important that these companies now receive the financial and social support they require. Their services will be needed again once this crisis is over.
It is therefore equally important that the Indian economy succeeds in restarting quickly once the health crisis is under control. Lessons must be learned, and consequences faced.
CAPSI and its members will monitor with utmost attention that companies and workers receive financial and social aid, and that the economic crisis does not exacerbate the existing problem of low-cost focused procurement of private security services. Mostly commercial buyers unilaterally suspended the payment of invoices, extended payment terms, and forced service providers to lower rates in order to find solutions for their own decline in turnover – a very bad omen for what’s to come.
Such practices damage the sustainable functioning of our essential services tremendously and stand in contrast to the role private security plays in managing the COVID-19 situation. Best value procurement is key for the sector to ensure economic growth and fair wages, and to overcome challenges in finding urgently required, skilled, labour to provide quality services.
The recognition of private security as essential services cannot be switched on or off according to the situation. It is time for the MHA to finally see the sector for what it is – an important source of high-quality security services, which is always there to protect businesses, supply chains, and citizens, and which must, therefore, be supported by public authorities through public-private cooperation and best value procurement that respects important quality criteria.
Security is a basic human need and right. Private security is not a service like the others. The industry has shown that it was always there to protect people, assets, and infrastructure. CAPSI thinks it is time the Government gives the private security sector the statute, recognition and support it deserves.
