News

The pressure is mounting on Spanish security company Prosegur to honour its human rights commitments following a series of complaints about the firm’s conduct in Latin America.

Prosegur stands accused of rights and labour violations over several years including the alleged harassment and dismissal of trade unionists and activists.

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Prosegur, the largest private security company in Latin America and the third largest in the world, employs more than 200,000 workers in 17 countries. It is a member of the United Nations Global Compact – a group of businesses that says it is committed to human rights, labour rights and anti-corruption. Despite this, UNI Global Union has had to file complaints about Prosegur’s conduct to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the OECD after attempting, unsuccessfully, to resolve issues over the last few years.

The situation in Latin America worsened recently following acts of harassment and intimidation directed at specific union leaders and activists. UNI says the company has tolerated a work environment with promotes fear and that potentially fostered violence. This may have contributed to an unprovoked violent attack on a trade union leader in Peru in August which led to the worker’s hospitalization and stitches to his head.

Pamphlets falsely accusing trade union leaders of corruption have been distributed by anonymous individuals in secure Prosegur worksites in Colombia and Peru. UNI fears that certain union leaders may face imminent harm and has written to Prosegur’s CEO and President in Madrid five times since April 2014 to express concerns about the increase in attacks on union leaders.

UNI wants Prosegur to respect human rights, country labour laws and global labour standards and to be clear about not tolerating violence.  Workers have a right to a safe and secure workplace everywhere.