KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) – Following a ruling handed down by the Supreme Court last September, security guards providing services are now regarded as employees, not contract workers.

The ruling became effective Saturday, however they’re are still concerns about the terms of the new employment contracts offered by security companies and based on this, some security guards have refused to sign.

The guards said the companies warned that failure to sign the new contracts, would result in them not being allowed to work.

In an interview with Irie FM News, the President of the Jamaica Association for Private Security, JAPS Teddy Lee Gray, said the move is a “bitter-sweet” one.

“This is a great day for security officers – we are officially employees after working like this for over 30 years. But the bitterness is that for persons with years of service, some security companies are forcing them to sign a one year contract. But we are telling them, don’t let anyone force you to sign ……”

He has also called on the Ministry of Labour to intervene in this matter.