Federal Council pleads for national standards for security companies
The Federal Council recently recommended the motion "Regulating minimum standards for security companies at national level" by Paul Rechsteiner, member of the Council of States, for approval. This concern is also welcomed by the Association of Swiss Security Services Companies (VSSU), which is firmly in favor of uniform national regulation.
The VSSU already have the Motion by National Councillor Priska Seiler-Graf of fall 2016 as well as cantonal efforts to standardize regulations for private security companies, the association emphasizes. The VSSU supported both the Concordat for Western Switzerland (CES) and the drafting of its German-speaking counterpart, the Concordat on Private Security Services (KÜPS). The KÜPS was declared suspended last year - not to the delight of the VSSU. For this reason, the association welcomes and supports the Federal Council's motion of February 14, 2018, to Motion by Paul Rechsteiner for a national regulation of minimum standards for security companies to be adopted.
No chance for black sheep
There has long been a legitimate public demand that private security personnel bring basic qualities to the table, the association points out. Cantons, the industry and other stakeholders have tried to meet these demands, so far without success. There are still cantons that have no or only minor requirements for the security services industry. Because of the Internal Market Act, this results in unequal treatment of companies and employees located inside or outside the regulated regions. These different conditions due to legal requirements are objectionable and counterproductive. In addition, the handling of different regulations per canton is very costly and complicated for private security companies that are active in several cantons.
The VSSU, which according to information represents all well-known companies and with more than 80% also the majority of the Swiss security industry, pleads for equivalent legal requirements in all cantons. Therefore, the industry association supports the motion Rechsteiner, which deserves attention, it says in conclusion in the VSSU media release.
