Collapsed security firm found to have racially discriminated against James Ajibola

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

The Workplace Relations Commission ruled that Best Guard Security Services Ltd (BGSS) racially discriminated against former security guard James Ajibola, awarding him €4,720.46 for employment rights breaches. The adjudicator said the company clearly discriminated against people of colour, particularly over wages.

Ajibola had worked 230 hours guarding shops in Dublin between 30 July and 9 September 2024 without pay. The WRC awarded €1,000 for breach of the Employment Equality Act 1998 and €3,337.46 for failure to comply with the security trade employment order. Further working-time awards brought the total to €4,720.46. It also directed payment of a Sunday premium at a rate to be agreed by the liquidator and the union.

BGSS’s liquidator told the WRC it knew of 53 former workers who had experienced similar treatment. Orders for redress to dozens of former staff total nearly €240,000, and the liquidator said these would need to be met through the Employers’ Insolvency Fund.