Raising working conditions for cleaning and security workers in Africa

Property services unions from across Africa met in Johannesburg, South Africa, this month to strengthen cross-border solidarity and collective bargaining power in the cleaning and security sectors.

Organized by UNI Africa, the event brought together UNI Global Union affiliates from four key countries – South Africa, Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya and Zambia – represented by SATAWU, SYNASCI, KNPSWU and ZUSAW unions, respectively. Together, they focused on strategies to raise employment standards, build organizing power and hold multinational companies accountable for providing fair wages and safe working environments.

Key challenges in the cleaning and security sectors

Workers in cleaning and security continue to face numerous difficulties. They often endure low wages, insecure contracts and hazardous working conditions. Employers in the region, including multinationals like G4S Allied, KK Gardaworld, Securitas and Fidelity, frequently fail to meet decent wage and employment standards. As these sectors play a crucial role in national economies, the unions emphasized the importance of enforcing government regulations to ensure that multinational employers comply with living wage requirements and decent work conditions.

A cross-border strategy for change

The meeting’s primary objective was to build power and solidarity among UNI Africa affiliates, focusing on:

• Expanding the unions’ footprint across the continent.
• Strengthening organizing and collective bargaining capabilities.
• Raising employment standards and ensuring living wages for workers.
• Advocating for governments to regulate these industries more strictly.
• Promoting the use of global agreements with multinational companies in negotiations.
• Supporting the implementation of standards through ICoCa (the association for responsible security services), with UNI Property Services as an observer partner.

Unions also committed to implementing resolutions from the UNI Property Services World Conference held in Galway, Ireland, in September, enhancing collective bargaining strategies, and encouraging affiliates to continue growing their membership and influence in the sector.

Victories and progress

The affiliates shared several success stories, particularly around collective bargaining agreements signed with multinational and national security companies. These wins not only improved conditions for workers but also demonstrated the strength of union organizing campaigns, which have significantly increased membership across the region.

Looking ahead: Strategies for growth and power

The unions agreed on several strategies to drive future growth and secure better conditions for workers. These included:

• Comprehensive research and mapping to increase the visibility of union efforts.
• Training programmes for leaders and activists, both through workshops and the UNI Africa Online Workers’ Academy platform.
• Resource commitments to support affiliates in organizing and collective bargaining.

 “Through this meeting, we have strengthened our resolve to build solidarity and power across borders. Workers in the cleaning and security sectors deserve dignity, fair wages and safe working conditions. Together, we will continue to hold multinationals accountable and raise working conditions across Africa,” said Keith Jacobs, UNI Africa Regional Secretary.