Security industry workers have welcomed a new Employment Regulation Order (ERO) for the sector that came into force on 1st July and increased minimum hourly rates of pay.
SIPTU Security Sector Organiser, Ed Kenny, said: “This new ERO saw the basic hourly rate of pay for a worker rise from €12.90 to €14.50. It also sets out terms and conditions for workers in the security industry in several areas, including an unsocial hours premium of €12.60 minimum payment per shift, increasing to €16.80 per shift from 1st January 2025 and €20.00 per shift from 1st January 2026.
“In addition to this security officers with service greater than five years in the industry, will receive one additional day of leave per annum and security officers with ten years’ service in the industry will receive two additional days leave per annum.
“While our members welcome these increases the implementation of this new ERO was delayed for several months. This was during a cost-of-living crisis that disproportionately affected workers in the security industry because of their low rates of pay.
“We will now seek to engage with employers on a successor to this ERO through the Joint Labour Committee for the industry which will go further in ensuring these workers are paid proportionately to the vital services they provide.”
Security Officer and senior SIPTU activist Christy Waters, said: “Workers in this industry have undergone significant professionalisation in recent years which requires them to have training and qualification requirements. Our members believe that this has yet to be fully recognised in their remuneration. This new agreement has now established the legally enforceable minimum pay rates for the industry and SIPTU will continue to negotiate collective agreements with higher payments in individual companies.”