Updated March 31, 2017 16:32:04

Photo: One guard claimed since BRI won the WA gallery contract in 2013, security standards had slipped. (ABC News: Louise Merrillees)

Staff at the Art Gallery of Western Australia have claimed some guards are illegally being paid cash in hand, and security standards at the gallery are lax.

The claims are similar to those made by guards at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), who said guards were being paid off the books and earning as little as $17 an hour.

The Victorian Government recently terminated the contract of Business Risks International (BRI) to supply guards for the NGV.

The Government said BRI was sub-contracting without permission and failed to provide information about sub-contractors' pay.

BRI also holds the security contract for the Art Gallery of Western Australia.

One guard, who did not want to be identified, said since BRI won the gallery contract in 2013, security standards had slipped.

The ABC has seen an email from a gallery registrar complaining about an external door being found unlocked.

The security guard also said he had found doors unlocked, and a set of internal keys went missing for weeks.

"I came in at 6:00am to find the doors were not closed, locked, therefore anybody walking past, even though [the doors have] got a keypad, could push any numbers and they are in," the guard said.

"There is over $220 million worth of art that are in that gallery that need to be safe and secured. If external doors are left unlocked then you have a security breach."

BRI '100 per cent aware of what's happening'

The guard also claimed some of his colleagues were being paid cash in hand.

Photo: One guard claimed he once came in at 6:00am to find the doors unlocked. (ABC News: Emma Wynne)

"I was talking to one of the guys one night, [and] he asked me what pay rate I was on. I told him and he says, 'Oh, that doesn't affect me at all because I get paid under the table'. I was sort of blown away by that because I knew it shouldn't have happened," he said.

Another person familiar with employment conditions at the Art Gallery of WA said many guards were being paid cash in hand.

"Between $18 and $23 per hour," the person said.

"A sub-contractor pays the cash ... Some staff work for BRI and some for [a] sub-contractor. BRI are 100 per cent aware of what's happening. [The] sub-contractor/payroll changes its name constantly, [and] all guards wear BRI uniform."

Gallery requests employee survey

Director of the Gallery of Western Australia Dr Stefano Carboni said in a statement: "BRI has been security contractors at the Art Gallery of Western Australia (AGWA) since 2013.

"The company has formally assured the gallery that no subcontracting, underpayment to guards or cash in hand payments has occurred during the contract.

"In the light of events in Victoria, AGWA will request an employee survey is undertaken by BRI at the AGWA to seek further assurance."

BRI declined to answer questions about the Art Gallery of WA but issued a statement referring to the Fair Work Ombudsman's investigation at the National Gallery of Victoria.

"BRI Security is assisting the Fair Work Ombudsman with it's (sic) enquiries," the statement said.

"BRI Security is committed to upholding the rights of our employees and continues to provide the highest quality of service delivery to our clients.

"As the investigation is ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further."

Topics: visual-art, work, law-crime-and-justice, perth-6000

First posted March 31, 2017 15:33:43