THERE is a danger of a huge manpower shortage in the security industry if new Government proposals force thousands of elderly security guards to retire.
The Security Association believes as many as 40,000 employees, most guarding residential and commercial premises, may be forced to retire from an industry where the average age is between 50 and 60 years old because of the provisions in the draft Security and Guarding Services Bill revealed in the South China Morning Post on Monday.
The bill could come into effect in 1995.
Under the proposed bill, security guards who are in danger of losing their jobs are those aged over 60.
Under the recommendations, prospective guards would have to apply for permits to work and security companies would have to be licensed.
The criteria for issuing licences would be worked out by a future Security and Guarding Services Industry Authority envisaged by the bill.