Two PSS employees inspect a man about to enter the Aladdin gaming complex in downtown Yangon.

PRIVATE security service providers said last week that the industry is a growing one, with many business owners taking an interest in looking out for themselves.

U Khant, who is the director of Professional Security Services (PSS) said that many companies, factory owners and businesspeople choose to rely on their own security.

“I think people are seeing private security companies as more reliable than the alternative, especially for those factories and warehouses in the city’s outskirts. Those sites are generally quite isolated and have plenty of value stored within them,” he said.

He added that his company is now securing 56 locations, compared with 50 in last November – an increase of about 12 percent.

U Min Naung, the managing director of Inwa Security Service, said his company manages a total of 42 sites this year, compared with only 30 at this time last year.

does not charge set fees when guarding a location but negotiates with the business owner on a plan, with a variety of factors affecting the eventual figure.

“We can’t simply quote a price when somebody rings us and asks how much we charge because a number of things will increase the cost – mainly the size of the site and its location.

“Some sites require only two or four guards, while others need more than 10. We normally pay our guards between K40,000 and K45,000 per month,” he said.

Ko Aung Naing, the managing director of Naing Export and Import Company, said private security services allow businesses to fend for themselves.

“I am happy to contract these services right now because I don’t see anyone else offering to protect my company.

“To that end I’ve hired four security guards from Inwa Security under a six-month contract, which costs about K200,000 a month.

“After that period I’m confident that I’ll extend the contract more or less indefinitely,” he said.