The Association of Safety Companies in Austria (VSÖ) underlines the recently underlined uniform standards for the quality and training of employees in private security services by Jörg Leichtfried, State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Inner, statements. In a media report, the State Secretary spoke of a “clear reform backlog in this area – even though it is nothing less than the security of people in public space”.
Robert Grabovszki, General Secretary of the VSÖ: “I can only underline this analysis. When it comes to the question of a mandatory basic training for employees in the security industry, Austria was clear in international comparison. I welcome that the topic is present at the highest political level.”
The VSÖ has been doing intensive persuasion for decades to make progress in the field of qualification. Because the status quo is sobering: a clarification of which qualifications or subject -specific training have to have employees in order to take on an activity in the security industry. Even security services in sensitive areas such as the critical infrastructure or access protection by armed employees are affected by these security gaps.
In autumn 2024 there was a decision-making amendment to the trade regulations for security employees, for which the VSÖ could make significant contributions. Due to the premature dissolution of the National Council, it could no longer be decided before the elections.
As far as a future regulation is concerned, uniform quality requirements for all employees of all intercourse companies are the following points crucial for all employees of all employees:
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Rapid and understandable reliability checks of employees by the authorities
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Obligation to see a visible of an ID card to enable simple control options
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Setup of a central database
“For the VSÖ it is clear that the quality of security services depends on the people they provide. If it is about the professionalism of employees, there must be no compromises,” says Robert Grabovszki.
This is particularly true against the background that private security service providers are perceived by the population as a fixed part of the Austrian security architecture. The large-scale VSÖ security study published in the spring of this year shows that it is even the most important element of the security architecture of our country for a quarter of the Austrian resident population.
The VSÖ is making a good example here. Since 2001, the member companies of the VSÖ, who employ two thirds of all employees in the private security system of Austria, voluntarily commit themselves to certified basic training. In addition, the Association is promoting training and further education in its own “Bildungszentrum Security” (BZS). This offers a wide portfolio of training and further training in the security area-from certified train-the-trainer programs to security provision for people in companies to interactive workshops and multi-day security training.
A determined commitment on training and further education is a central component for the VSÖ for future-proof security services at a top level. “This is the only way we can get the very high-perceived feeling of security in Austria in the future,” concludes Robert Grabovszki.
About the VSÖ
The VSÖ is an independent association of companies and institutions founded in 1975, which certainly deal in all forms. The VSÖ pursues the goal of further increasing the quality of security products and security services in Austria. This is done by the creation of guidelines for high -quality security, the approval of products and services that correspond to these guidelines, as well as by examining the correct compliance with national and international norms, provisions and quality standards in Austria. With its expertise, the VSÖ thus contributes to improving the general security of member companies, customers and society.