Clearer rules for the private security industry

Department stores' surveillance, bodyguards, building security, money transports: the security industry is more diverse than the common, well-known names would suggest. And the industry has continued to grow in recent years. A development that has occasionally led to strange developments and incidents.

The industry association Fedil Security Services is working to professionalise the sector – and to ensure that everyone plays by the same rules. An interview with Jacques Templé, President of Fedil Security Services and General Director of Brink's Security Luxembourg, and Fedil Secretary General Marc Kieffer.

Lëtzebuerger Journal: Fedil Security Services is one of 22 sectoral associations within Fedil, which in turn is the voice of Luxembourg industry. Who is represented in it and what is the purpose of the association?

Marc Kieffer: Fedil Security Services was founded in 2004 by the leading companies in the sector at the time. Today, the association has six members: Brink's, G4S, Dussmann Security, Securitas, Seris Security and Apleona, although the latter has not renewed its licence as of 20 March.

The original aim was mainly to jointly negotiate a collective labour agreement, but also to address the concerns of the private security sector.

Over the years, a number of other activities have developed. There were companies in the private security sector that respected the legislation more than others. We have therefore tried to ensure fair competition for private security companies.

As in any other sector, it was important to have the necessary competences so that private security companies could act in accordance with the growing demands of customers. At the same time, the role of the security officer has evolved considerably over the years. This also led us to discuss with the social partners about a competence centre, the Security Industry Training Center (SITC), which was founded during the pandemic to offer cross-company training to security employees. In addition – and this was the first time in 2023 – it also integrates jobseekers.

Jacques Templé: Fedil Security Services, the SITC, the Employment Agency (ADEM) and the National Training Centre (CNFPC) are part of this programme.

To stay with the training aspect for a moment. In the past, there has been work on an initial vocational training programme for security officers. It is rumoured that companies are not interested in such training. Is that true?

Kieffer: Our initial reluctance was primarily based on two points: Firstly, the minimum age of candidates. You have to realise that a security guard has to have a certain level of maturity. As a rule, an apprenticeship starts at the age of 16. And that is a relatively sensitive age. We don't know whether they necessarily still have the honourable character required to be a security guard at the age of 18.

Secondly, the initial idea was to organise training in the form of an on-the-job apprenticeship, where the practical part of the training takes place in a company. However, private security companies do not have the right to take apprentices to their customers.

The discussion has evolved. I think that training will only start from the age of 18. There is a curriculum working group that is currently working on the content. So the training will come, but we can't yet say exactly whether it will be in the next school year or the one after that.