A responsible Chowkidar is a must for a secure nation: Gangwar

Emphasising on employment potential and relevance of the private security segment, Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar on Friday said a responsible chowkidar (watchman) is a prerequisite for a secure nation.

"Private security industry is among one of the five top-most employment-generating sectors in the country. About 50 lakh security personnel are safeguarding our factories, banks, offices and apartments and doing great service to the nation," Gangwar said addressing a private security conclave at FICCI here.

He further said that with the passage of the Code on Wages by Parliament on August 2, the central government has given the right of minimum wages to about 50 crore unorganised sector workers and the same will be applicable to security guards also.

He further said, "Wages of security guards vary from Rs 5,000 to Rs 13,000 in various states. To do away with these discrepancies, we have made provision of national minimum floor wage and no state government can fix the wages below this floor wage."