Fmr. CCT employees head to Labour Department
Some 16 employees were issued letters of redundancy on June 3, 2013 following what CCT’s management described as a move to reorganise its workforce to compete with multinational competitors in the BVI.
More than ten employees have claimed that two weeks have since passed and workers, who should have received compensation as promised by CCT and in agreement with the Labour Code, have not received what was entirely promised. It is alleged that only partial payments have been made to some of the staff to date.
It was further alleged that some employees are still owed monies for vacation time accrued even as deductions have been made from employees’ pay cheques for monies owed on telephone bills.
One source described the situation as “totally nerve racking” and disclosed that the Labour Department has been approached in hopes of having the matter addressed.
According to the Labour Code Act 2010, Section 91, it states: “In lieu of providing notice of termination, the employer may, at his or her discretion, pay the employee a sum equal to the wages and other remuneration and confer on the employee all other benefits that would have been due to the employee at the expiry of any required period of notice.”
It was also claimed that as per the revised labour code, companies were required to put a pension plan in place for certain employees but this has allegedly never been put in place by CCT.
This is covered under section 111 of the Act which states in part: “An employer shall make provision for retirement benefits to be paid to his or her permanent employees by means of a pension scheme, an annuity, provident fund or other form of retirement scheme which may be contributory.”
“Now that [CCT has] made employees redundant, [they] haven’t paid anything to the employees as a result of that nor has any penalty been issued against the company for not being compliant,” the source said.
The concerned parties said they have since lodged an official complaint with the Labour Department because their former employers have been distributing payment in a piecemeal fashion just as if they were still employed with the company.
Some employees had reportedly approached CCT’s management with questions regarding their payments before the Labour Department was approached.
Workers have also claimed that the section of the Labour Code, which states when an employee should be paid, has been breached. Section 92 of the Act states: “Any amount due to an employee whose service is terminated shall be paid to the employee by the employer not later than the last working day before the termination becomes effective.”
When contacted, Chairman of the CCT Board of Directors, Mrs Margaret A. Penn, said she was unaware of the concerns that have been raised recently by the aggrieved workers.
“I am not aware of them saying anything… if they really have a question or something they would like to query, maybe they should ask me,” Mrs Penn stated.
Mrs Penn said she would not be able to refute or confirm the claims made by the workers. “I’m not aware of any claim, so I couldn’t possibly have an opinion or comment…”
She also stated the she really didn’t feel there was any issue since, “whatever was done was done according to the law and the Labour Department is well aware of it.” Mrs Penn promised to look into the former employees’ complaints.
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30 Responses to “Fmr. CCT employees head to Labour Department”
Why this woman so bold face, every board she on when they fire people she never know what going on when unpleasantness arrives, but she always know everything when things good. Whereas she has to meet with her board and the CEO of the company before any major decisions are made she to damn l!e.
she too lie. She is a crude business woman. She darn well know she aint pay the workers now she on here talking bout she don't know what is going on. God don't like ugly. Most of those people have rent and house payments and children in school. You could have offered them a cut in salary for a year and I am sure they would have taken it. You and Van>>>>> are heartless.
THOUGHT you were an NDP, BVI Investment Club stooge. What happen, they fired you too?
COME ON GIVE CCT A BREAK DEM AH LCOAL COMNPANY
I CANT STAND THAT WO**N... LIES TOO MUCH.
AND NDP IS THE OWNERS FOR CCT. SO GOOD LUCK!!!!!!
IGod is not sleeping we shall see the outcome of this whole thing fight you all fight for you all right this is your country you all have no place to go so fight.
dem know exactly what dem do those people. the act clearly states the payment in due in lieu of notice. That means when you sent them home there should of been a cheque in their hands or money already deposited to their accounts for not giving notice. Not have the people till now still waiting on their notice pay if you did not confer/discuss and agree with them on any payment plan. U need to be penalized for this and give the people them money.
As soon as CCT gone 100% local, they allegedly heartlessly cut their own ppl throat.. this was inhumane and inconsiderately done.. CCT board members are not very smart business men. half of the times your service is down is because they cant pay their bills... they tell customers that they are waiting on a part or sum bs.. lies. i kno. i worked there for years. manager sue the company for hundreds of thousands of $$ and is still there getting a fat salary and aint doin jack!! brought in xpats and filled their pockets while locals have to end up training them.... dumb a$$ bad minded set ah ppl...
So for 3 yrs CCT allegedly ain't had no pension in place for its employees and dem right there under labour nose. Who is carrying out inspections to ensure that companies are in compliance with the labour laws? Doesn't seem as though this is being done and I'm sure this is not the only 1. Labour step up and don't wait for things like these to happen. Find them and fine penalties to all the others. Govt trying to find ways to get more revenue so start imposing your penalty fines to protect our people.