Security guards on the frontline poorly paid

Urip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

Thursday's bomb blast in front of the Australian Embassy on Jl. Rasuna Said, Kuningan, South Jakarta, killed nine people, one of whom was an embassy security guard.

And security guards at the embassy and at premises nearby also make up some of the 182 people injured in the blast.

Last year, four security guards were among the 12 fatalities in an explosion at the JW Marriott Hotel in Mega Kuningan, South Jakarta, that injured 147 people.

The responsibility to secure state and private premises has put the guards on the frontline in the fight against terrorism. However, despite the increasing risks, most of them still get meager amounts of pay.

"We just have to accept (the risks) as being part of our job," said Muhammad Sidik, a security guard at an office building on Jl. Thamrin, Central Jakarta. "If anything happens to us during our duty, it is our fate."

The 34-year-old guard usually brings home about Rp 1 million (US$107.64) per month. Beside the take-home pay, he is also enrolled by his company in the government's Workers Social Protection Scheme (Jamsostek).

Sidik hoped his company would provide better equipment and clothing for guards, including protective vests.

Despite the risks, Sidik, who has to support a wife and four children, has a simple reason for staying in his line of work. "It's hard to find a job these days, especially at my age," he said.

Another security guard, Nursalim, who works at an office building on Jl. Sudirman, Central Jakarta, said his salary did not compensate for the high risks.

"At times like this, our employer always requires us to perform better," said the 33-year-old. "On the other hand, they don't look to improve our welfare."

Nursalim, who works a 12-hour shift each day, said his basic wage was only Rp 800,000, excluding family and health stipends and overtime pay of some Rp 200,000.

Still, he said he was grateful he received more than the many guards working for contract security firms, who were often paid lower than Jakarta's regional minimum wage of Rp 671,550 a month.

"All I hope is that my company helps support my family if something bad happens to me on duty," Nursalim said. "Employers should also provide us with more training about how to anticipate bomb attacks."

Dede, 30, a guard from a security contractor, said his pay was quite low but like Sidik, said it was the only job he could find.

He mentioned his concern over reports there would be further attacks on Australian targets around the country.

"It would really make me think twice if my company sent me to work at any of those places," he said.