2023-08-29 15:48:55
Vienna (OTS) – According to media reports, security personnel were deployed at the Frequency Festival, which recently took place in St. Pölten, without registering under social security law and without a corresponding background check. “Incidents like this bring an entire industry into disrepute and show once once more that the demands of the Association of Austrian Security Companies (VSÖ) are more relevant than ever,” emphasizes VSÖ Secretary General Robert Grabovszki. “It would be so easy to avoid incidents like this.”
Avoidance of such incidents by competent and responsible clients/organisers as well as clear contractual regulations with commissioned security companies
It is often not easy for organizers or clients to ensure in advance that companies that are commissioned with security agendas comply with all necessary standards. This includes, among other things, registering employees with social security, a background check, and compliance with the collectively agreed wages and working hours. For years, the VSÖ has provided potential clients with valuable support in finding the right service provider in the awarding or selection process. For this purpose, the association published the first edition of the “Manual for selecting the right security service provider” in 2013, which can be downloaded free of charge from the VSÖ website. In this, the basic criteria of a high-quality selection process are defined.
The 3rd edition of this manual with updated checklists will be published shortly. With these, the seriousness of security service providers can be checked point by point. There is also further information to exclude potential liability risks for clients, among other things.
Organizers often underestimate that with an unprofessional selection of the security service…
- … risk administrative penalties due to faulty selection.
- … accept liability risks if you do not have a sufficient trade license.
- … bear liability risks due to unfair competition.
- … accept the risks of general contractor liability.
Clients can protect themselves relatively easily by…
- … make a professional selection and find out beforehand what to look out for.
- … make a written agreement with the security company in which e.g. B. the following topics are regulated: use only of correctly employed and socially insured employees (no work contracts, etc.), use only of employees with a background check, penalties, provision of replacements in the event of incorrect performance at the expense of the contractor, etc. If these agreements are not complied with, high penalties are to be paid.
- … ensure that the security companies transfer the same regulations in writing to any subcontractors. It is common for subcontractors to be used for particularly large orders.
- … constantly check before and during the event whether the key points of the agreements are being adhered to. Clients can have background checks and duty rosters with working hours presented and employees can be asked regarding their employment relationship and remuneration.
In addition, it makes sense for responsible organizers to take care of the company’s prescribed minimum criteria before and during the commissioning of the security company. This includes:
- Sufficient business license
- integrity of the managing director(s)
- authority to sign
- Remuneration according to the current collective agreement
- Employment of all employed employees
- background check
- use of subcontractors
- Approved Uniforms
- Take out business liability insurance
- Fulfillment of all social security obligations
- Fulfillment of all tax obligations
Avoidance of such incidents by implementing the VSÖ’s ten-year-old demand to adapt the law/trade regulations
For years, the VSÖ has been working intensively to adapt the regulations in the area of law/trade law for the security trade that are missing or not formulated specifically enough in a European comparison. The fact that there is a corresponding need for legal tightening is also shown by the fact that corresponding goals have already been anchored in the current government program 2020-2024 with the “creation of clear and binding quality standards” and the “introduction of standardized basic training” for private security service providers. These goals are currently being negotiated, and they should and should be implemented during this legislative period.
Specifically, it is regarding nationwide regulations for mandatory basic training. The aim is to provide employees in the security industry with an additional ID card following the usual background check, which must be worn visibly on duty. In the event area, the ID card should be provided with a registration number. This would make it possible for organizers and authorities to see at a glance whether the employees deployed by the security service have been trained and have their reliability checked.
Questions & contact:
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact:
Robert Grabovski, BSC MBA
VSÖ Secretary General
Muellnergasse 4/10 | 1090 Vienna
T. +43 1 319 41 32
M. +43 664 8317099
robert.grabovszki@vsoe.at
www.vsoe.at
1693324593
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