The Municipality of Asunción awarded the company Vigilancia SA (Silver Vip) security services for a total value of G. 444 million, which has a negative record due to the working conditions it offers its guards.
He managed to win the so-called tender; “Private Security and Surveillance Service for the Asunción Bus Terminal (TOA).” with ID 390150. For this tender, offers began to be received on Wednesday, December 22, 2021.
The firm had been accused by its own workers of not paying wages commensurate with the workload. The incident occurred in August 2020 when the security guards denounced on the Facebook fan page “Guardias Paraguay” that the Silver Vip company was not paying the salary established by law.
In the affidavit, which was presented by some 10 guards from the company, they point out that when they signed a contract they received a card from the Sudameris company to receive their salaries. However, it was taken away again the same day and instead they were given the MI card to receive their wages there.
They served in Senacsa. With this procedure, the guards did not receive the salary that the company states and, according to our sources, many of the signatories have already lost their jobs after this complaint.
The salary established by the Ministry of Labor for security guards is 3,289,208 for 12 working hours. However, this increases for those who work at night.
It is counted from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. the next day. For workers who perform a shift like this, the salary could reach G. 4,114,000. The salary that the Silver Vip guards would be receiving is only G. 2,500,000.
The Capital District was in charge of carrying out the call for tenders under the category “Military and Security Equipment. Security and Surveillance Service”, due to the type of contracting procedure by way of exception.
The aforementioned institution awarded one item; three Security and Surveillance Service units with a unit price of G. 148 million. The firm’s legal representatives are Hugo César Venialbo Mezgolits and Víctor Venialbo.
Two more companies responded to the call: Paraguay Security SA and Protec Max Sociedad Anónima.
STILL NOT WORKING
Despite the realization of the call and the hiring of guards, they are still not working. Precisely, the start of their work is delayed, which generates a lot of discomfort in the workers. On this matter and on the reason for the call via exception, we tried to communicate with Sara Giménez, director of the TOA. However, she replied that she would attend to us as soon as she had time, at the close of this edition, she still did not answer our calls.
OTHER IRREGULARITIES
In addition to salary, guards must pay for their uniforms. Specifically, shirts cost G. 100 thousand each (a minimum of two is required), pants; G. 80,000, jacket; G. 200,000, shoes; G. 120,000, belt; G. 30,000. In total, added to other accessories, it would be between G. 500,000 to G. 600,000.
And the most serious thing is that they ask for advances that are delivered with interest. That is, they request G. 200,000 but only receive G. 180,000. However, G. 200,000 is discounted.
