Dear Friends,
We have deployed watchmen through contractors in our mines premises, especially at the gates and the boundaries, where they basically perform the jobs of watching and manually logging the movements (ingress & egress) of vehicles, checking the materials being transported, and patrolling inside the premises. The contractor pays them the minimum wages of the unskilled category, since, as per the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, a watchman falls under the unskilled category. However, recently the contractor and we, as the principal employer, have been served notice by the LEO (C) for less payment of wages to them, contending that they are not watchmen, rather security guards, therefore entitled to the minimum wages of the semi-skilled category. Can someone guide me and let me know what exactly the differences are between a watchman and a security guard, and what factors should be considered while determining whether a person is discharging duty as a watchman or a security guard? Your professional inputs would be of immense help for us in contesting the charges.
Thanks!
VK Sinha
From India, Bengaluru
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6We have deployed watchmen through contractors in our mines premises, especially at the gates and the boundaries, where they basically perform the jobs of watching and manually logging the movements (ingress & egress) of vehicles, checking the materials being transported, and patrolling inside the premises. The contractor pays them the minimum wages of the unskilled category, since, as per the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, a watchman falls under the unskilled category. However, recently the contractor and we, as the principal employer, have been served notice by the LEO (C) for less payment of wages to them, contending that they are not watchmen, rather security guards, therefore entitled to the minimum wages of the semi-skilled category. Can someone guide me and let me know what exactly the differences are between a watchman and a security guard, and what factors should be considered while determining whether a person is discharging duty as a watchman or a security guard? Your professional inputs would be of immense help for us in contesting the charges.
Thanks!
VK Sinha
From India, Bengaluru
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Dear V.K. Sinha,
Please check the notification issued by the government of Bihar or the appropriate authority. They have clearly classified security guards as unskilled workers. In my experience overseeing security operations for a major security provider company, I have not come across any notification differentiating between watchmen and guards in a nationwide context. If such a notification has been issued, it could be an oversight on their part.
Security services now fall under the PSAR Act 2005, which outlines regulations for the security industry.
Regards,
Capt. Rajeshwar Singh
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/captrajeshwarsingh
From India, Thana
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Please check the notification issued by the government of Bihar or the appropriate authority. They have clearly classified security guards as unskilled workers. In my experience overseeing security operations for a major security provider company, I have not come across any notification differentiating between watchmen and guards in a nationwide context. If such a notification has been issued, it could be an oversight on their part.
Security services now fall under the PSAR Act 2005, which outlines regulations for the security industry.
Regards,
Capt. Rajeshwar Singh
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/captrajeshwarsingh
From India, Thana
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There is separate min wage for Security guards as per the Min. wages of the particular state govt. Check with your state min. wages. Watch man comes under security guard category. Pon
From India, Lucknow
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From India, Lucknow
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Hi,
Security guards and the services/business related to this fall under the employment category that is separately governed by PSAR 2005. However, the minimum wages category also shows a category of employment as 'Watchmen'. Therefore, it raises this ambiguity. In my opinion, if the security services/business are governed by a separate enactment, then it must have its own structure of wages notified under the security services category, like the Security Guard Boards do under the Maharashtra Private Security Guards (Employment & Welfare) Regulation Act. They specifically consider security and various classes of security and declare the wages as a separate autonomous body under the Labor Ministry.
Categorically speaking, wages more than the semi-skilled category may be considered for critical and vital functions like security.
Thanks,
Bijay
From India, Vadodara
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Security guards and the services/business related to this fall under the employment category that is separately governed by PSAR 2005. However, the minimum wages category also shows a category of employment as 'Watchmen'. Therefore, it raises this ambiguity. In my opinion, if the security services/business are governed by a separate enactment, then it must have its own structure of wages notified under the security services category, like the Security Guard Boards do under the Maharashtra Private Security Guards (Employment & Welfare) Regulation Act. They specifically consider security and various classes of security and declare the wages as a separate autonomous body under the Labor Ministry.
Categorically speaking, wages more than the semi-skilled category may be considered for critical and vital functions like security.
Thanks,
Bijay
From India, Vadodara
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Watchman will be generally seen as an unskilled person if he performs tasks like general vigilance in his duty.
If the company entrusts him with more responsible assignments, such as noting down vehicle numbers entering and exiting the premises, conducting thorough vehicle checks, and allowing visitors only after a preliminary inquiry, then he would fall into the category of semi-skilled or even skilled. For instance, he may operate the generator and manage power changeovers during outages, or handle receiving and sending of mail by maintaining registers during his shift.
From India, Hyderabad
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If the company entrusts him with more responsible assignments, such as noting down vehicle numbers entering and exiting the premises, conducting thorough vehicle checks, and allowing visitors only after a preliminary inquiry, then he would fall into the category of semi-skilled or even skilled. For instance, he may operate the generator and manage power changeovers during outages, or handle receiving and sending of mail by maintaining registers during his shift.
From India, Hyderabad
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Dear All,
Watchman is not an unskilled category. However, if you go by the term Security Guard, it certainly is. Nonetheless, please understand the difference between the two. Many of the states' minimum wage notifications will show you two separate categories for Watchmen and Security Guards. The security services category again falls under two parts - one governed by the States' Minimum Wages Act and the other falls under the DGR (Director General Of Resettlement) under the central wages. State to State, the categories differ. So, it would not be prudent to counsel taking into consideration one state's wages and giving an opinion about another.
Dear Mr. VK Sinha, you may just forget other factors and concentrate on your State minimum wages and categories which you will easily find on the Internet and seek your opinion based on the facts received thereof.
Regards,
KLG
From India, Kolkata
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Watchman is not an unskilled category. However, if you go by the term Security Guard, it certainly is. Nonetheless, please understand the difference between the two. Many of the states' minimum wage notifications will show you two separate categories for Watchmen and Security Guards. The security services category again falls under two parts - one governed by the States' Minimum Wages Act and the other falls under the DGR (Director General Of Resettlement) under the central wages. State to State, the categories differ. So, it would not be prudent to counsel taking into consideration one state's wages and giving an opinion about another.
Dear Mr. VK Sinha, you may just forget other factors and concentrate on your State minimum wages and categories which you will easily find on the Internet and seek your opinion based on the facts received thereof.
Regards,
KLG
From India, Kolkata
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There is no functional difference between a watchman and a security guard. Both are the same. While referring to the minimum wages of Tamil Nadu, I do find the category of security guards but not watchman. For all practical purposes, the minimum wages of a security guard shall apply to a watchman, I opine.
Pon, Chennai
From India, Lucknow
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Pon, Chennai
From India, Lucknow
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Dear V.K.Sinha,
The category of watchmen have been shown as un-skilled in most of the scheduled employments declared by the state Govts. Similarly the Govt. of NCT of Delhi has listed 29 nos. of Scheduled employments in their notification but no separate minimum rates of wages have been fixed for Security personnel. However, in the list of Scheduled employments declared by the NCT of Delhi, the categories of Chowkidar, Durban and Watchman have been mentioned to be Un-Skilled workers whereas the Night-Bearer–cum–Chowkidar has been shown in Semi-Skilled category in some of the Scheduled employments.On the contrary minimum rates of wages of the Govt. of Haryana contained 47 Scheduled employments where the Security Guard without weapon has been shown as Semi-Skilled ‘A’ and Security Guard with weapon as Skilled ‘A’. The Security Inspector / Security Officer/Supervisors have been placed in Highly Skilled category.
The basic differences between a watchman and a security guard is that a watchman works as durban or as a chokidar to perform a particular one or two functions whereas the category of Security guard carry multiferous fuctions with greater resposibilities.Yourself you have mentioned that the watchmen deployed with your company are performing the jobs of watching,manually logging in register the movements (ingress & egress) of vehicles, checking the materials being transported and patrolling inside the premises.
In my opinion the LEO (C) has rightly issued notice to the company for less payment of wages to watchmen contending that they are not watchman, rather security guards.
BS Kalsi
From India, Mumbai
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The category of watchmen have been shown as un-skilled in most of the scheduled employments declared by the state Govts. Similarly the Govt. of NCT of Delhi has listed 29 nos. of Scheduled employments in their notification but no separate minimum rates of wages have been fixed for Security personnel. However, in the list of Scheduled employments declared by the NCT of Delhi, the categories of Chowkidar, Durban and Watchman have been mentioned to be Un-Skilled workers whereas the Night-Bearer–cum–Chowkidar has been shown in Semi-Skilled category in some of the Scheduled employments.On the contrary minimum rates of wages of the Govt. of Haryana contained 47 Scheduled employments where the Security Guard without weapon has been shown as Semi-Skilled ‘A’ and Security Guard with weapon as Skilled ‘A’. The Security Inspector / Security Officer/Supervisors have been placed in Highly Skilled category.
The basic differences between a watchman and a security guard is that a watchman works as durban or as a chokidar to perform a particular one or two functions whereas the category of Security guard carry multiferous fuctions with greater resposibilities.Yourself you have mentioned that the watchmen deployed with your company are performing the jobs of watching,manually logging in register the movements (ingress & egress) of vehicles, checking the materials being transported and patrolling inside the premises.
In my opinion the LEO (C) has rightly issued notice to the company for less payment of wages to watchmen contending that they are not watchman, rather security guards.
BS Kalsi
From India, Mumbai
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Agree with Mr. Kalsi's opinion.
These days, several states have Acts on Private Security, as pointed out by other members. Please refer to the appropriate Act. Many state governments also have specified wages. The job descriptions and responsibilities of a watchman and security guards are different, with the latter being more comprehensive, as already pointed out. Generally, security guards are exploited and paid for an 8-hour shift, whereas the work required is for 12 hours. Apart from denying them overtime wages, they are also deprived of several statutory benefits. Moreover, they come under the semi-skilled and skilled category.
Warm regards.
From India, Delhi
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These days, several states have Acts on Private Security, as pointed out by other members. Please refer to the appropriate Act. Many state governments also have specified wages. The job descriptions and responsibilities of a watchman and security guards are different, with the latter being more comprehensive, as already pointed out. Generally, security guards are exploited and paid for an 8-hour shift, whereas the work required is for 12 hours. Apart from denying them overtime wages, they are also deprived of several statutory benefits. Moreover, they come under the semi-skilled and skilled category.
Warm regards.
From India, Delhi
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Hi,
Considering the fact that the security services business falls under the purview of the Central Act, i.e., the Private Security Agencies Act 2005, every state has been directed to form its rules and scheme to regulate the business of security services. Hence, the states have the obligation to decide the wages and ensure the regulation in respect of security employment, welfare, and benefits therein. As stated by members in this post, reference to minimum wage notifications and any other notifications specifically governing the security business has to be made. Examples include the Pune/Mumbai District Security Guard Boards under the Maharashtra Private Security Guards Regulation of Employment and Welfare Act 1981.
Thanks
From India, Vadodara
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Considering the fact that the security services business falls under the purview of the Central Act, i.e., the Private Security Agencies Act 2005, every state has been directed to form its rules and scheme to regulate the business of security services. Hence, the states have the obligation to decide the wages and ensure the regulation in respect of security employment, welfare, and benefits therein. As stated by members in this post, reference to minimum wage notifications and any other notifications specifically governing the security business has to be made. Examples include the Pune/Mumbai District Security Guard Boards under the Maharashtra Private Security Guards Regulation of Employment and Welfare Act 1981.
Thanks
From India, Vadodara
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Hi,
Watchmen come under the unskilled category, but trained security guards who have completed training as per the PSAR-2005 guidelines fall under the skilled category (please refer to the State Minimum Wage notification of the State of Rajasthan). A trained person cannot be treated as unskilled.
Thank you.
From India, Gurgaon
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Watchmen come under the unskilled category, but trained security guards who have completed training as per the PSAR-2005 guidelines fall under the skilled category (please refer to the State Minimum Wage notification of the State of Rajasthan). A trained person cannot be treated as unskilled.
Thank you.
From India, Gurgaon
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PSAR Act 2005 defines all about security guards' business conducted by agencies. Hiring security guards in the name of watchmen to escape defined wages under security is not correct. States define their own rules and schemes in line with the PSAR Act. The welfare and employment norms are therefore decided by the States. Schedule of employments under the Minimum Wages Act by each individual state may or may not reflect security guards as employment, but it will have reference to the PSAR Act. A watchman is unskilled if there is no reference or relation to commercial activity in respect of security services.
From India, Vadodara
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From India, Vadodara
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A P LATEST MINIMUM WAGES FOR SECURITY SERVICES UP TO 31-03-2020 (2).pdf
A.P LATEST MINIMUM WAGES FOR SECURITY SERVICES UP TO 31-03-2020.xls