Labour ministry to take strong action against delinquent employers

Labour and Social Security Minister Derrick Kellier is warning that strong action will be taken against delinquent employers who have failed to pay over National Insurance Scheme (NIS) contributions.

The failure of employers to pay over the statutory deductions may result in workers being denied their State benefits such as retirement, invalidity grants and employment injury benefits. 

Kellier says his ministry has been making several appeals to the employers to pay up but he says they have refused to so.

He says he will be utilising provisions under the National Insurance Act to press the employers to pay over the statutory deduction.

The labour and social security minister points out that the ministry is also contemplating naming and shaming delinquent employers.

In its annual report, the  Auditor General Department's highlighted that as at March 31, 2012, 1,518 employers failed to make payments to the NIS.

The employers, which include both private and government entities, owe a total of $1.35 billion.

That was an increase over the previous year when the figure was $1.23 billion.

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