The cost of security services has increased by almost 50 per cent.

This was revealed by the Jamaica Society for Industrial Security, (JSIS), during Friday’s press briefing, which was held, to outline the financial impact of last month’s Supreme Court ruling on Marksman Limited and the National Housing Trust.

The court ruled that, among other things, security guards engaged to provide third parties with security services, are employees, not contract workers.

The court’s decision is applicable to all private security companies, which engaged security officers as independent contractors.

Director of the JSIS Richard Reese, explained that the group met with government representatives on Monday to inform them of the significant and immediate financial impact on clients.

Meantime, President of the JSIS, George Overton ,wants the government to pay up outstanding monies to the security companies it hires.

The government represents 65% of business client share for security companies.