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.

Entreprises

G4S - Employer

Autre

Not Reported ( Exploitation minière ) - Buyer

Concerné

Nombre total de personnes concernées: Chiffre inconnu

Travailleurs: ( Chiffre inconnu - Lieu inconnu , Sociétés de sécurité , Men ) , Travailleurs: ( Chiffre inconnu - Lieu inconnu , Sociétés de sécurité , Women )

Enjeux

Salaire impayé , Salaire décent , Intimidation et menaces , Santé et sécurité au travail , Discrimination liée à la grossesse , Discrimination fondée sur l'orientation sexuelle et l'identité de genre (LGBT) , Liberté syndicale , Liberté d'association , Accès à un recours non judiciaire , Droit à l'alimentation , Harcèlement sexuel , Harcèlement (non sexuel) , Horaires de travail et temps libre raisonnables

Réponse

Réponse demandée : Oui, par BHRC

Affaire contenant la réponse : (En savoir plus)

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

Type de source : NGO

Résumé

Date indiquée: 31 aoû 2026

Lieu: Afrique du Sud

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.

Entreprises

G4S - Employer

Autre

Not Reported ( Exploitation minière ) - Site

Concerné

Nombre total de personnes concernées: Chiffre inconnu

Travailleurs: ( Chiffre inconnu - Lieu inconnu , Sociétés de sécurité , Genre non indiqué )

Enjeux

Salaire décent , Salaire impayé , Frais de recrutement , Santé et sécurité au travail , Maladie , Intimidation et menaces , Accès à un recours non judiciaire , Liberté syndicale , Horaires de travail et temps libre raisonnables , Accès à l'électricité , Accès à l'eau , Exposition à la chaleur , Coups et violence

Réponse

Réponse demandée : Oui, par BHRC

Affaire contenant la réponse : (En savoir plus)

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

Type de source : NGO

Résumé

Date indiquée: 31 aoû 2026

Lieu: République démocratique du 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.

Entreprises

G4S - Employer

Autre

Not Reported ( Exploitation minière ) - Site

Concerné

Nombre total de personnes concernées: Chiffre inconnu

Travailleurs: ( Chiffre inconnu - Lieu inconnu , Sociétés de sécurité , Genre non indiqué )

Enjeux

Salaire impayé , Salaire minimum , Horaires de travail et temps libre raisonnables , Santé mentale , Santé et sécurité au travail , Santé personnelle , Maladie , Intimidation et menaces , Liberté syndicale , Exposition à la chaleur , Accès aux médicaments , Accès à l'information , Accès à l'eau , Accès à un recours non judiciaire

Réponse

Réponse demandée : Oui, par BHRC

Affaire contenant la réponse : (En savoir plus)

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

Type de source : NGO

Rapport

31 aoû 2026

Auteur:

UNI Global Union

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

Allégations

Résumé

Date indiquée: 31 aoû 2026

Lieu: Ouganda

Entreprises

G4S - Employer

Autre

Not Reported ( Exploitation minière ) - Buyer

Concerné

Nombre total de personnes concernées: Chiffre inconnu

Travailleurs: ( Chiffre inconnu - Lieu inconnu , Sociétés de sécurité , Men ) , Travailleurs: ( Chiffre inconnu - Lieu inconnu , Sociétés de sécurité , Women )

Enjeux

Réponse

Réponse demandée : Oui, par BHRC

Affaire contenant la réponse : (En savoir plus)

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

Type de source : NGO

Résumé

Date indiquée: 31 aoû 2026

Lieu: Afrique du Sud

Entreprises

G4S - Employer

Autre

Not Reported ( Exploitation minière ) - Site

Concerné

Nombre total de personnes concernées: Chiffre inconnu

Travailleurs: ( Chiffre inconnu - Lieu inconnu , Sociétés de sécurité , Genre non indiqué )

Enjeux

Réponse

Réponse demandée : Oui, par BHRC

Affaire contenant la réponse : (En savoir plus)

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

Type de source : NGO

Résumé

Date indiquée: 31 aoû 2026

Lieu: République démocratique du Congo

Entreprises

G4S - Employer

Autre

Not Reported ( Exploitation minière ) - Site

Concerné

Nombre total de personnes concernées: Chiffre inconnu

Travailleurs: ( Chiffre inconnu - Lieu inconnu , Sociétés de sécurité , Genre non indiqué )

Enjeux

Réponse

Réponse demandée : Oui, par BHRC

Affaire contenant la réponse : (En savoir plus)

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

Type de source : NGO

Lire la suite : 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.

Chronologie

Response from G4S to UNI Global Union reports re conditions in S. Africa, Uganda, DRC and India operations

Date:

9 sep 2026

Type de contenu:

Réponse de l'entreprise

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

Date:

31 aoû 2026

Type de contenu:

Rapport

Langues disponibles: English

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Centre pour
les Droits Humains
et les Entreprises

Centre pour les Droits Humains
et les Entreprises

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

Chronologie

Response from G4S to UNI Global Union reports re conditions in S. Africa, Uganda, DRC and India operations

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