After Safi riot, GWU demands changes in working conditions

The General Workers Union wants to meet the Justice and Home Affairs Ministry to discuss the employment contracts of Detention Services officials working inside the Safi closed detention centre.

The union expressed solidarity with the detention officials yesterday after some 100 asylum seekers in the closed detention centre organised a protest that turned violent. It is believed some 271 asylum seekers had their detention automatically increased from 12 months to 18 months after their asylum claims were rejected at the appeals stage before the 12-month detention period was up.

The GWU said yesterday’s protests meant the working conditions for detention services officers had to improve. “This was not the first uprising inside the detention centres where immigrants turned violent and security officers were injured.”

“This was clear proof of how justified the GWU was, for health and safety reasons, in objecting to Detention Services officials from being locked in all the time with immigrants in these centres.”

The union said it understood that detention officials had to monitor detainees, but it would not accept to have them put in danger while carrying out their duties.

“We want the home affairs ministry to meet the GWU on work contracts and recognising the union. We’re sure we can find solutions for all sides concerned.”

15 police officers and three soldiers were slightly injured during the operation and were given assistance on the place by an army doctor. One detainee was also slightly injured and subsequently taken to a polyclinic for care.