PHITSANULOK — About 200 security guards from around northern Thailand rallied on Friday to demand a delay in enforcing a new law to govern the business, which is scheduled to take effect on March 5.
The protesters say minimum education requirements in the new law would close the job market to some guards, while a requirement that they pay for training would cause additional hardship.
They gathered in front of the provincial hall and submitted a petition to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha via the Damrongtham centre, set up by the National Council for Peace and Order to open channels for the public to raise issues that concern them.
Flt Sgt 1 Noppadul Jaiaree, director of Noppakan Security Ltd Partnership, said the law aimed to better regulate and upgrade the security business, but the drafters didn't appear to know much about actual business operations in Thailand. It requires operators to pay fees for permits and sets the minimum education level for guards at Matthayom 3 (ninth grade).
Security guards or their employere are also required to pay between 2,000 and 6,000 baht each for security training with the Royal Thai Police, despite the fact that security business providers pay taxes to the government, he said.
He said the requirement did not match business needs, would cause operational difficulties, and would close the opportunity for people with low education to enter the workforce.
He said business operators were still not ready to adapt to the new law, which comes at a time when some are already being affected by the weak economy. He fears some businesses, particularly small firms, would have to close, creating more hardship for employees and their families.
Kraiphol Pongkaew, a trainer from Special Thai Guard and Services Co, said some guards were older people with education below the new requirement, so the law did not support them.
Narong Malila, 35, an employee with Noppakan Security, has worked as a security guard for four years. He finished only Prathom 6 (sixth grade) and had worked earlier as a debt collector, but after an accident he switched to become a security guard.
“If the new law will cost me my job, I may not be able to find a new job because of my health condition. The law also does not mention the disabled so I have joined the rally against it,” he said.
Pairoj Kaewdaeng, chief of the Phitsanulok Labour Office, accepted the petition on behalf of the provincial governor and promised to forward it to the prime minister next week.