Guarding Day on 15 June: Security industry for clear and binding quality standards

On June 15, the "International Day of Guarding" is celebrated. The social partners of the security industry are jointly committed to the concerns of the industry and its practical and high-quality further development. It is therefore in the interest of both sides that clear and binding quality standards for private security companies are created – as provided for in the Federal Government's work programme. 

Promote high-quality, reliable guarding

Likewise, faster background checks of employees in the security sector are equally in the interest of employers and employees. In the future, these should be carried out by the Ministry of the Interior according to uniform and clearly comprehensible guidelines.

The industry social partners are committed to mandatory, uniform training for employees. Training on topics such as fire protection, first aid, de-escalation and job-specific technology should be provided as a standard tool for the responsible activity of guarding. A clarification of the existing separation of duties between executive and security activities is to be welcomed, whereby the currently regulated scope of trade is to be retained in its existing form. In the interests of fair and fair competition, strict sanctions are unavoidable for black sheep in the industry who violate requirements and legal requirements.

 

Swift implementation of the Security Services Act

"The creation of uniform qualification standards for employees and the implementation of regular background checks by the authority would be important milestones in sustainably improving the quality of service and increasing the sense of security among the population," says Mag. Hans-Georg Chwoyka, Federal Chairman of the Security Industry in the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber.

"On Guard Day, we would like to express our appreciation to all employees who ensure the safety of all of us at train stations, shopping centres, airports and events, for example. So that they finally find clear, safe and good framework conditions, we demand a rapid implementation of the Security Services Act," emphasizes Gernot Kopp of the trade union vida.

The sectoral social partners have already carried out extensive preparatory work for the above-mentioned improvements. "We are happy to actively and comprehensively contribute our know-how to the development of the planned Security Service Provider Act for the security industry," Chwoyka and Kopp emphasise in conclusion.