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Persons owe NHI ‘but if they get sick you can’t let them die’- Hon Wheatley
The Minister made the comments on JTV’s The Big Story with host Cathy O. Richards, on Monday, September 13, 2021, where he said that urgent reform is needed to remedy the situation.
Employees still deducting & not paying in – Hon Wheatley
According to the minister, part of the genesis of the problem is that employers are still deducting monies for NHI and Social Security however, not making those contributions to the institutions on behalf of their staff.
“You can’t run a country like that… you are doing bad business and you are damaging the financial base for these institutions. They are based on the population giving their contributions in,” he said.
Another issue the Minister highlighted, is that expat workers who come to the country on one work permit, are seeking work elsewhere and getting paid ‘off the books’ and hence, no contributions can be made to NHI and Social Security.
He said in the event that persons fall ill, the state still must ensure that these persons are properly taken care of.
“We have to get that problem fixed, it’s a challenging problem… it should have been fixed years [but] it has gotten so bad now, getting it turned around is a monster, as opposed to a baby,” Hon Wheatley said.
Legislative changes to remedy situation
When questioned on whether the government is willing to provide some type of amnesty, the minister said payment plans are available and that persons who have not been up-to-date since the hurricanes of 2017 are giving the option of paying in terms to remedy the situation.
According to the Minister, another challenge in fixing the issue is that because persons have not paid in such a long time, it can almost seem impossible for them to pay off the amount owed under a payment plan given.
Hon Wheatley hinted that some legislative changes may have to come to allow for an amicable solution to the problem.
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25 Responses to “Persons owe NHI ‘but if they get sick you can’t let them die’- Hon Wheatley ”
Hon. Vincent O. Wheatley, my political Minister and government leader, may God shower you and your family with blessings beyond your thoughtless expectations, by the magnitude, and gracefulness of his Devine love. Amen ✓
When persons fall sick, they have an issue because their status reflects outstanding contributions; persons’ passports are being withheld by Immigration because they have exhausted the extendable time granted on producing their good standings and work permits in limbo due to the obvious. Also to add salt to these wounds, the employees’ wages are deducted for loss time they have to make these additional trips to immigration/labour for renewal on time and/or SS/IRD/NHI to check up on their statuses due to these very deceitful employers.
What makes this real sinickle is that these employers are not your regular mom and pop businesses – these are some of the so-called high players in our community – “the untouchables”. So does that make it right for them to mistreat their employees? No! It should not separate them because there are provisions in place to assist those that may have a financial issue or setback but some of these employers who feel they are above the law, too hifalutin with pride to go and ink a document to state they need time to settle their dues. Yet it would appear that their employees are only good enough for pushing the work but to ensure that they receive due compensation as rightfully mandated, is a heavy burden. Who are looking out for these individuals. Why should they have to be running around like chickens trying to sort and make sense out of a problem that was created by their non-compliant employers and tactfully massaged by the system for the lack of principal ethics. They, the employees have too because no one else will – it’s only whispers and chatter for fear of victimisation and reprisal.
Gosh this disgusts me and defies all common humanity.
May God help us all.in this love-lack British oversea territory, named B.V.I. It is clear to all that read some of the unkind positions of some in our midst, that our Country is locked in confusion. Truly, this is hurting, and leads to no good conclusion, when the CoI complete it's probing of mismanagement of our finances, politically. September 19, 2021 02:16 am.