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Some employers hire staff based on 'how much abuse' they can take– Labour Minister

- said Labour Department seeking to educate employers & employees about Labour Code
January 28th, 2022 | Tags: abuse employers labour code hire Vincent O. Wheatley
Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration Honourable Vincent O. Wheatley (R9) has said, based on his assessment over the years, some employers hire staff based on how much abuse the employees can take from them. Photo: Facebook/File
The Labour Department, according to Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9), is addressing the issue by having seminars for employers and employees to make them more au fait with their rights as per the Labour Code in the territory. Photo: VINO/File
The Labour Department, according to Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9), is addressing the issue by having seminars for employers and employees to make them more au fait with their rights as per the Labour Code in the territory. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration Honourable Vincent O. Wheatley (R9) has said, based on his assessment over the years, some employers hire staff based on how much abuse the employees can take from them.

He made the remarks during a live interview with 284 Media on Thursday, January 27, 2022, while discussing issues within his ministry.

“I have been studying this problem for the past three years and I am beginning to understand why some of these problems do exist.

One of the reasons I found in the general sense is the business owners have different standards for hiring than what we as Government look for,” he said.

“We primarily look for qualifications of persons to do a job, [but] what I have discovered is that some businesses qualifications isn’t the only thing that at. And I am going to say this here now, they seem to also look at other things that are important to them – how much abuse can this employee I’m trying to hire is willing to take, how low can I pay them, how often can I pay them late, can I deny them vacation, can I not pay the NHI and Social Security and not end up in trouble and on and on I can go,” he added.

Harsh reality

The Labour Minister said he may sound ‘harsh’ but “that is the reality that I have discovered in looking at certain issues in the workplace. It is sad but that is the reality I have discovered.”

Honourable Wheatley said the Labour Department is addressing the issue by having seminars for employers and employees to make them more au fait with their rights as per the Labour Code in the territory.

26 Responses to “Some employers hire staff based on 'how much abuse' they can take– Labour Minister”

  • yeah (28/01/2022, 10:29) Like (31) Dislike (5) Reply
    So you know that, what have you put in place
  • Hmmmm (28/01/2022, 10:49) Like (32) Dislike (21) Reply
    You can always tell persons who have never owned or ran a business in their lives. Do you really think an employer is hiring based on abusing people? Persons start businesses to offer best service and MAKE MONEY! In order to do so, employees must be CONSISTENT AND WORKKKKKKKKKKKKK for their wages! Telling employees to show up on time, work hard, work longer if necessary, make sacrifices etc. is NOT ABUSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The real abuse is a business owner investing hundreds of thousands, sacrificing property etc., getting loans etc. only to have some employees that sit back, collect a wage and not contribute to the success of the business. The demonizing of business people is becoming tiring. Not all business people are flushed with cash!
    • WOW (28/01/2022, 15:13) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
      He is right. I have seen it
    • Real Talk (28/01/2022, 17:41) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      Someone upset lol
    • @hmmm (28/01/2022, 21:16) Like (15) Dislike (0) Reply
      Some of ya’ll do abuse the fact that some workers never say no! In the bvi we work like dog!! To receive a check every 2weeks that cant even pay house rent! N i must give my all to a company if i drop down tmr they just send my family a fruit basket n hire someone the other week?!! Some of ya’ll employers need to do better!!!
    • Business Owner (28/01/2022, 21:44) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
      Well said!! All this guy do is walk around in a suit, collect a check, drink wine and talk nonsense!!!
  • Hmmm. Wow. (28/01/2022, 10:50) Like (16) Dislike (0) Reply
    So the minister finally admitting that the labour dept is a failure because if staff was getting justice for those same abuse it wouldn't be that way...Now staff afraid to go to labour because they know its no justice...Especially when you have to deal with the male reps in labour. The female reps is better to deal with....But favourtism seem to be rampant in labour because tje bad staff get all the recognition......So. Sad.
    • Real Talk (28/01/2022, 17:44) Like (14) Dislike (2) Reply
      Nope it ain't a failure. Many employees don't know one thing about bvi labour codes so employers take advantage of you when your not fully educated on the subject. Am I making sense?
    • @ hmmm.wow replied (29/01/2022, 07:22) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Spot on. The system don't work they know it.however they busy telling you the little man how to sort your business it's both sad and unfortunate.
  • Smh (28/01/2022, 10:59) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    That is so true but what is being done about it for real
  • critic (28/01/2022, 11:16) Like (10) Dislike (11) Reply
    Mr. Minister you seem tiO be bias. What about the workers who try to use their employers. There are good and bad on both sides. Time to stop the complaining and get on with helping to build this territory. Get on with the people’s business and put corrective measures in place that would help the employer and the employee.
  • OH WOW (28/01/2022, 11:30) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    a real cuntry
  • annudda2cents (28/01/2022, 12:02) Like (10) Dislike (2) Reply
    here is an idea. just like how food-serving establishments need to have a food handler's certificate to operate, every employee, in the presence of the human resources person for their employer, should undergo mandatory labour code orientation. department of labour can schedule these for once a month, for week-long sessions since the orientation should seek to go through each labour code item line by line. once the employee and employer reach the point that they understand what is expected of each other, they both sign off, as well as the labour officer in charge of this excercise, and employees can then be given a labour code orientation participation certificate. upon the issuance of said labour code orientation participation certificate, then the work permit is approved and work permit card is issued. granted that this final step of labour code orientation participation should only be undertaken after all the the previous work permit procedures are followed and work permit is approved in principle.
  • next (28/01/2022, 12:56) Like (16) Dislike (0) Reply
    yes it is true some of these employees don't care about their staf they say and treat them like children and you have to put up it this needs to stop
  • bvi (28/01/2022, 13:40) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    Never a truer headline.
  • musa (28/01/2022, 14:50) Like (3) Dislike (5) Reply
    Any other excuse honourable leader
  • Hmmmm (28/01/2022, 15:47) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
    SO WHAT YOU GOT 5O SAY ABOUT THOSE EMPLOYERS WHO HAS ALLOWED TO BE EXCUSED FOR NOT PAYING THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES / AND STILL THE EMPLOYEES ARE BEING DOUBLE TAXED
  • T (28/01/2022, 16:10) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Mr minister that is a word from God himself especially if thay have your permit dog eat your super
  • Smh (28/01/2022, 16:27) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    Do not always agree with the Honorable Minister but he is on point with this one. There lies our problem. They prefer to demoralize Belongers to cover up the real reason why they prefer to hire expats.
  • thank you (28/01/2022, 22:45) Like (17) Dislike (0) Reply
    Thank you Hon. wheatley for speaking the truth. Many people do not like to hear the truth. You hit the hammer directly on the head.. Keep on telling the truth who vex vex.
  • Wicked (29/01/2022, 07:13) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    That has been going on for a long time. Some of the officers who go around to business having meetings with employees who complain sweep everything under the rug. There is a small trust company in road town where this unfair treatment happens constantly. Employees there are always on edge not knowing if that would be their last day according to the mood of the manager. Labour minister please do something.
    • Yes (29/01/2022, 09:05) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      The employers in East End are the worst. They work their employees from Sunday to Sunday with no day off. They don't pay overtime nor holiday pay. The employees afraid to go Labour because they afraid that they might get fired. One of the employers wife works at the Labour Dept and they still have the staff working like they are animals, no time off to rest.
  • Cloth (29/01/2022, 07:32) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    I am very interested in hearing your solution Mr. Minister, and what's your true aim here with the topic at hand. Locals don't take abuse because they have options.
    From which side of the fence you rallying for now?
  • Ex worker (29/01/2022, 18:52) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    this is only a tip, this and so much more have bern happening, but you why its not really heard of because majority of the victims are expert workers. BELONGERS nor LOCALS don't stay under this slavery mentality working environment...imagine working MONDAY to SATURDAY..(6DAYS) a week (48) LONG HARD WORKING HOURS, with no off days, no tea breaks or time of. Employees are SCARED of calling in sick, though one is entitled to 12 sick days which is not being paid for and forfeited is not used or taken..As for VACATION days, getting 12 days with Saturdays included..if this is not ROBBING EMPLOYEES blindly will i have no idea what to call it...an EXTRA TWO days in the EMPLOYER'S POCKETS..


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