UNI Global Union documented labour abuses across G4S operations in Sub-Saharan Africa. In Uganda, harms documented by the union included wages that did not cover the cost of living, healthcare, food or school fees, long working shifts (including being pressed into consecutive shifts of 24-36 hours under threat of dismissal), work in remote and hazardous conditions. Workers also alleged they were not reliably paid for consecutive shifts while complaints to head office were ignored. Although a collective agreement is in place for the provision of transport, guards alleged it was not generally available and they were forced to walk up to an hour which left female guards at risk of assault and robbery. The G4S workforce in Uganda included a "significant" number of women who alleged sexual exploitation and harassment linked to promotion, and a failure to accommodate pregnancy and maternity leave; workers' treatment depended on individual managers rather than company policy. Workers also said union members were subject to victimisation, harassment and disciplinary action with representatives reportedly prevented from recruiting with a "chilling" effect. The report found that security guards subject to such conditions are less able to complete their job duties and ensure safety of people.

Unternehmen

G4S - Employer

Andere

Not Reported ( Bergbau ) - Buyer

Betroffen

Total individuals affected: Number unknown

Arbeiter: ( Number unknown - Location unknown , Sicherheitsfirmen , Men ) , Arbeiter: ( Number unknown - Location unknown , Sicherheitsfirmen , Women )

Themen

Wage Theft , Existenzminimum , Einschüchterung & Drohungen , Occupational Health & Safety , Schwangerschaftsdiskriminierung , Diskriminierung der sexuellen Orientierung & Geschlechtsidentität (LGBT) , Verweigerung von Vereinigungsfreiheit (siehe: Arbeit) , Freedom of Assembly , Access to Non-Judicial Remedy , Recht auf Nahrung , Sexuelle Belästigung , Harassment (other than sexual) , Reasonable Working Hours & Leisure Time

Antwort

Stellungnahme angefragt: Ja, von BHRC

Story containing response: (Find out more)

Ergriffene Maßnahmen: In a response to the BHRC, the company outlined its commitment to human rights and the commission of an independent review into the allegations.

Art der Quelle: NGO

Zusammenfassung

Date Reported: 31 Aug 2026

Standort: Südafrika

UNI Global Union documented labour abuses across G4S operations in Sub-Saharan Africa. In South Africa, harms documented by the union included wages that did not cover the cost of living and not being paid dividents from shares held under a company scheme; workers who raised the issue said they risked being suspended or dismissed and an ongoing case brought by workers is ongoing. Workers also reported long shifts and commutes, with workdays lasting up to 16 hours; when they raised the issue they were told hiring more staff would result in salary cuts despite pay reportedly already not meeting basic needs. Workers reported physically hostile and dangerous working environments, with substandard or absent PPE. Some posts did not have electricity, running water, toilets or ventilations with workers reporting exposure to extreme hot and cold temperatures throughout the year. Workers at open-cast mines were reportedly subject to criminal activity and violence. Workers alleged G4S in South Africa refused to recognise their efforts to unionise at one mine for years, and after recognition pressure increased whereby management subject workers to selective pressure and oversight. The report found that security guards subject to such conditions are less able to complete their job duties and ensure safety of people.

Unternehmen

G4S - Employer

Andere

Not Reported ( Bergbau ) - Site

Betroffen

Total individuals affected: Number unknown

Arbeiter: ( Number unknown - Location unknown , Sicherheitsfirmen , Geschlecht nicht angegeben )

Themen

Existenzminimum , Wage Theft , Personalbeschaffungsgebühren , Occupational Health & Safety , Krankheit , Einschüchterung & Drohungen , Access to Non-Judicial Remedy , Verweigerung von Vereinigungsfreiheit (siehe: Arbeit) , Reasonable Working Hours & Leisure Time , Access to electricity , Wasserzugang , Heat exposure , Gewaltakte

Antwort

Stellungnahme angefragt: Ja, von BHRC

Story containing response: (Find out more)

Ergriffene Maßnahmen: In a response to the BHRC, the company outlined its commitment to human rights and the commission of an independent review into the allegations.

Art der Quelle: NGO

Zusammenfassung

Date Reported: 31 Aug 2026

Standort: Kongo (Demokratische Republik)

UNI Global Union documented labour abuses across G4S operations in Sub-Saharan Africa. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) workers at some sites reported pay of around half the legal minimum wage and irregular pay intervals, shifts of 12 hours and often longer without breaks resulting in depression and stress. Workers were also employed in physically hostile environments exposed to extremes of heat and cold and not equipped with adequate PPE. Workers reported fainting at posts from heat and dehydration, with inadequate water supplies, exposure to pollution at mines and processing plants, and minimal medical care. Although a union delegation is formally recognized at some sites, guards said they could not reach a union in practice to raise complaints and that actions to demand rights had been met with threats of dimissal. The report found that security guards subject to such conditions are less able to complete their job duties and ensure safety of people.

Unternehmen

G4S - Employer

Andere

Not Reported ( Bergbau ) - Site

Betroffen

Total individuals affected: Number unknown

Arbeiter: ( Number unknown - Location unknown , Sicherheitsfirmen , Geschlecht nicht angegeben )

Themen

Wage Theft , Minimum Wage , Reasonable Working Hours & Leisure Time , Mentale Gesundheit , Occupational Health & Safety , Personal Health , Krankheit , Einschüchterung & Drohungen , Verweigerung von Vereinigungsfreiheit (siehe: Arbeit) , Heat exposure , Medikamentenzugang , Informationszugang , Wasserzugang , Access to Non-Judicial Remedy

Antwort

Stellungnahme angefragt: Ja, von BHRC

Story containing response: (Find out more)

Ergriffene Maßnahmen: In a response to the BHRC, the company outlined its commitment to human rights and the commission of an independent review into the allegations.

Art der Quelle: NGO

Bericht

31 Aug 2026

Autor:

UNI Global Union

Failure to Protect: Abuses in G4S Sub-Saharan Security Operations

Anschuldigungen

Zusammenfassung

Date Reported: 31 Aug 2026

Standort: Uganda

Unternehmen

G4S - Employer

Andere

Not Reported ( Bergbau ) - Buyer

Betroffen

Total individuals affected: Number unknown

Arbeiter: ( Number unknown - Location unknown , Sicherheitsfirmen , Men ) , Arbeiter: ( Number unknown - Location unknown , Sicherheitsfirmen , Women )

Themen

Antwort

Stellungnahme angefragt: Ja, von BHRC

Story containing response: (Find out more)

Ergriffene Maßnahmen: In a response to the BHRC, the company outlined its commitment to human rights and the commission of an independent review into the allegations.

Art der Quelle: NGO

Zusammenfassung

Date Reported: 31 Aug 2026

Standort: Südafrika

Unternehmen

G4S - Employer

Andere

Not Reported ( Bergbau ) - Site

Betroffen

Total individuals affected: Number unknown

Arbeiter: ( Number unknown - Location unknown , Sicherheitsfirmen , Geschlecht nicht angegeben )

Themen

Antwort

Stellungnahme angefragt: Ja, von BHRC

Story containing response: (Find out more)

Ergriffene Maßnahmen: In a response to the BHRC, the company outlined its commitment to human rights and the commission of an independent review into the allegations.

Art der Quelle: NGO

Zusammenfassung

Date Reported: 31 Aug 2026

Standort: Kongo (Demokratische Republik)

Unternehmen

G4S - Employer

Andere

Not Reported ( Bergbau ) - Site

Betroffen

Total individuals affected: Number unknown

Arbeiter: ( Number unknown - Location unknown , Sicherheitsfirmen , Geschlecht nicht angegeben )

Themen

Antwort

Stellungnahme angefragt: Ja, von BHRC

Story containing response: (Find out more)

Ergriffene Maßnahmen: In a response to the BHRC, the company outlined its commitment to human rights and the commission of an independent review into the allegations.

Art der Quelle: NGO

Mehr lesen: uniglobalunion.org

Security guards employed by G4S, the international arm of Allied Universal, described poverty wages, unpaid overtime and, in some cases, sexual harassment, according to a report published today by UNI Global Union, a global trade union federation.

The report, based on interviews with current and former G4S employees across South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, said guards described being pressured to work shifts of up to 36 hours without additional pay, and that some had borrowed money from informal lenders to cover living costs.

Zeitleiste

Response from G4S to UNI Global Union report re conditions in S. Africa, Uganda & DRC operations

Datum:

9 Sep 2026

Inhaltsart:

Unternehmensantwort

Verfügbare Sprachen: English
Failure to Protect: Abuses in G4S Sub-Saharan Security Operations

Datum:

31 Aug 2026

Inhaltsart:

Bericht

Verfügbare Sprachen: English

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Failure to Protect: Abuses in G4S Sub-Saharan Security Operations

Zeitleiste

Response from G4S to UNI Global Union report re conditions in S. Africa, Uganda & DRC operations

Failure to Protect: Abuses in G4S Sub-Saharan Security Operations