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.

Empresas

G4S - Employer

Otro

Not Reported ( Minería ) - Buyer

Afectado

Total de personas afectadas: Número desconocido

Trabajadores: ( Número desconocido - Ubicación desconocida , Empresas de seguridad , Men ) , Trabajadores: ( Número desconocido - Ubicación desconocida , Empresas de seguridad , Women )

Temas

Robo de salarios , Salario digno , Intimidación y Amenazas , Salud y seguridad en el trabajo , Discriminación por embarazo , Discriminación por orientación sexual , Libertad de asociación , Libertad de asociación , Acceso a recursos no judiciales , Derecho a la alimentación , Acoso sexual , Acoso (no sexual) , Horarios de trabajo y tiempo libre razonables

Respuesta

Respuesta solicitada: Sí, por BHRC

Historia que contiene respuesta: (Más información)

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

Tipo de fuente: NGO

Resumen

Fecha comunicada: 31 ago 2026

Ubicación: Sudáfrica

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.

Empresas

G4S - Employer

Otro

Not Reported ( Minería ) - Site

Afectado

Total de personas afectadas: Número desconocido

Trabajadores: ( Número desconocido - Ubicación desconocida , Empresas de seguridad , Género no especificado )

Temas

Salario digno , Robo de salarios , Tasas de contratación , Salud y seguridad en el trabajo , Enfermedades , Intimidación y Amenazas , Acceso a recursos no judiciales , Libertad de asociación , Horarios de trabajo y tiempo libre razonables , Acceso a la electricidad , Acceso al agua , Exposición al calor , Golpizas y violencia

Respuesta

Respuesta solicitada: Sí, por BHRC

Historia que contiene respuesta: (Más información)

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

Tipo de fuente: NGO

Resumen

Fecha comunicada: 31 ago 2026

Ubicación: República Democrática del Congo

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.

Empresas

G4S - Employer

Otro

Not Reported ( Minería ) - Site

Afectado

Total de personas afectadas: Número desconocido

Trabajadores: ( Número desconocido - Ubicación desconocida , Empresas de seguridad , Género no especificado )

Temas

Robo de salarios , Salario mínimo , Horarios de trabajo y tiempo libre razonables , Salud mental , Salud y seguridad en el trabajo , Salud personal , Enfermedades , Intimidación y Amenazas , Libertad de asociación , Exposición al calor , Acceso a medicinas , Acceso a la información , Acceso al agua , Acceso a recursos no judiciales

Respuesta

Respuesta solicitada: Sí, por BHRC

Historia que contiene respuesta: (Más información)

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

Tipo de fuente: NGO

Informe

31 ago 2026

Autor:

UNI Global Union

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

Alegaciones

Resumen

Fecha comunicada: 31 ago 2026

Ubicación: Uganda

Empresas

G4S - Employer

Otro

Not Reported ( Minería ) - Buyer

Afectado

Total de personas afectadas: Número desconocido

Trabajadores: ( Número desconocido - Ubicación desconocida , Empresas de seguridad , Men ) , Trabajadores: ( Número desconocido - Ubicación desconocida , Empresas de seguridad , Women )

Temas

Respuesta

Respuesta solicitada: Sí, por BHRC

Historia que contiene respuesta: (Más información)

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

Tipo de fuente: NGO

Resumen

Fecha comunicada: 31 ago 2026

Ubicación: Sudáfrica

Empresas

G4S - Employer

Otro

Not Reported ( Minería ) - Site

Afectado

Total de personas afectadas: Número desconocido

Trabajadores: ( Número desconocido - Ubicación desconocida , Empresas de seguridad , Género no especificado )

Temas

Respuesta

Respuesta solicitada: Sí, por BHRC

Historia que contiene respuesta: (Más información)

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

Tipo de fuente: NGO

Resumen

Fecha comunicada: 31 ago 2026

Ubicación: República Democrática del Congo

Empresas

G4S - Employer

Otro

Not Reported ( Minería ) - Site

Afectado

Total de personas afectadas: Número desconocido

Trabajadores: ( Número desconocido - Ubicación desconocida , Empresas de seguridad , Género no especificado )

Temas

Respuesta

Respuesta solicitada: Sí, por BHRC

Historia que contiene respuesta: (Más información)

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

Tipo de fuente: NGO

Leer más: 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.

Línea del tiempo

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

Fecha:

9 sep 2026

Tipo de contenido:

Respuesta de la empresa

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

Fecha:

31 ago 2026

Tipo de contenido:

Informe

Idiomas disponibles: English

Ver la historia completa

Centro de Empresas
y Derechos Humanos

Centro de Empresas
y Derechos Humanos

Esta página no está disponible en Español y está siendo mostrada en English

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

Línea del tiempo

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