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Sectoral social dialogue - Private security

Social partners

Employees' organisations	Employers' organisations
Union Network International	European Confederation of Security Services

 

The social partners have been working together inside the structure of an informal working party since 1992 and in the sectoral dialogue committee since 1999.

Activities and Meetings

Visit the library of work programmes, agendas, minutes and other documentation from the sectoral social dialogue committee.

Overview

The private security sector is experiencing growth, particularly in the new Member States where such services were virtually non-existent during the communist period. The general reasons for growth include the increasing outsourcing of security services by public authorities; the transfer by banks and large stores of some of their activities to private sector security firms; the increased demand for security services at sea and airports and increasing demand by private clients. Notwithstanding the global growth of the sector, cash-in-transit (CIT) activities are declining as a result of technological developments and the increased use of electronic transactions, as well as the introduction of the Euro.

Achievements

The social partners have drawn up a joint handbook on the awarding of contracts (in order to promote quality in the choice of awarding authorities) and a handbook on basic training for private security agents (published in 1999 and 2001 respectively).
In 2001 they signed a joint declaration on the harmonisation of legislation governing the sector. European harmonisation is sought on various points such as authorisations to practice, basic vocational training, working conditions, health and safety and cross-border services.
In 2003, the code of conduct and ethics for the private security sector was signed. The code is based on high quality standards and a high degree of professionalism. All undertakings must respect the letter and the spirit of the regulations applicable to the sector. The code lays down that, in countries where national regulations are insufficiently developed, the social partners will work to develop appropriate regulations. The code also contains principles linked to the selection and recruitment of workers, vocational training, working conditions, health and safety, equal opportunities and non-discrimination, work organisation and relations with customers, the police authorities and other undertakings in the sector.
The social partners have adopted in 2006 a vocational training tool kit. Currently, they are working on the cross-border transport of securities, cash in transit, enlargement, health and safety and the modernisation of work organisation.