Keeping tabs on customers

Anwar has to be on guard always at the entrance of the bank where he works, monitoring the people walking in and out, confronting any suspicious person and intervening in case of any altercation between a customer and bank officials or between two customers.

But Anwar, 30, said he enjoyed every bit of it; “every single day of my job.”

He added: “I came here two years ago. I opted to join this sector as I was serving in the same post in India.”

Anwar, who’s married for three years, said: “My day starts at 5am when I go from the company’s accommodation at Mussafah to my workplace at the bank in Abu Dhabi.

“The 12-hour shift begins from 7am. I have a one-hour break for lunch. I return home and have my dinner and go to sleep by 10pm.”

On the nature of his work, he explained, “My duty is to watch customers while entering into and exiting from the bank. I also guide them on matters that I know.

“Occasionally, I have to intervene when there is a problem and inform the officials concerned to reach a solution.”

However, he has been fortunate on the sense he never had to encounter any robbery attempts or acts of violence at the bank so far.

“In case of such incidents, I have to immediately alert the officials. By the way, I do not carry any weapon to defend myself or handle an act of violence. I try to contain the situation peacefully.”

He said his company is conducting a training course on the methods of civilised response to different kinds of situations that a security guard could face during his duty.

Turning to financial matters, he said he draws a monthly salary of Dh700, which may go up to Dh1,100 if he works overtime and on public holidays.

According to him, the salary and living conditions of people like him should improve.

“Security guards should also be provided with adequate weapons to safeguard the workplace as well as ensure their own safety,” he opined.