December 2004
Richard
Swasey:
From now on Delta needs
to be a different company
The
Revistazo.com team traveled to La Ceiba, to the offices of Delta Security
Service, to hear the version of events relating to the charges of labour
rights violations made by current and former employees of Richard Swasey,
owner of the company. What follows is an interview with Swasey's answers
in their entirety:
Revistazo: As a security company, what obstacles do you face?
Richard Swasey: The lack of monitory efforts on the part of the State. For example, the Social Security Office inspects businesses to ensure that they are meeting the social security requirements of the employees. The National Institution of Vocational Training and the Executive Office of Income make sure that they are meeting the requirements concerning rent and taxes that they have to pay, city taxes, and the deductions that they have to make from each employee's pay. The Ministry of Labour ensures that the employees are paid according to the law and minimum wage standards that they govern and a number of other issues in which only the state can intervene and remedy.
R: In the security field, what are the obstacles that you confront when hiring guards, and in terms of providing the service, do you make up for the costs through the bids you procure?
R.S. We make every effort to stay in the business, there are a lot of guards who steal weapons, steal from the businesses they are guarding and from the ones that are paying them. The security business is pretty complex, but I have to go back and point out that the State is the only one that can regulate it, as is evidenced in the systems in San Salvador, Guatemala and the rest of the surrounding countries which function well because of the constant supervision on the part of the state.
R: Is it true that some companies are benefiting in the bidding process and getting certain kickbacks?
R.S.:
Definitely, because I pay approximately L 300 000 monthly and I know of
companies that have the same amount [of taxes] as mine and they are paying
L 50 000.
R: Why does that happen?
R.S.: I believe State institutions don't have the necessary supervision, that is, to be constantly auditing these companies.
R: You have settled the labour conflicts that you had pending in Tegucigalpa's Attorney General of Labour's office. What encouraged you to do that?
R.S.: A lot of things motivated us. Your visit, and the information you gave us. I was uninformed about some things. I was aware of other issues and had already given orders to resolve the problem and in this I believe I have fulfilled the promise I made to you.
R: Do you think the transmission of official documents went wrong in Tegucigalpa or in other cities of the country?
R.S.: Yes, in Tegucigalpa as well as in other cities the State has failed me and not solely in these things, but in many others also.
R: What measures have you implemented as a result of this experience?
R.S.: Well, we have hired a group of people now and I give them precise instructions to take all the necessary measures to fix the problem for me.
R: What now, from Delta?
Articles:
Interviews:
Selvin
Martinez
-Labor Inspector
Carlos
Ayala
-Lawyer from the
Secretary of Labor