Transient workers were exempted from making National Insurance (NIS) payments which would have granted them access to significant benefits including maternity benefits since NIS’ fund is already under pressure—and a lot of Venezuelan migrants are pregnant.
Finance Minister Colm Imbert made those points in the Senate on Monday night as he wound up debate on the Miscellaneous Provisions package of amendments.
Apart from facilitating the tax amnesty and providing for pensions for judges and legislators, it sought to exempt transient workers—in T&T for a specified period of time—from making NIS payments.
This followed Government’s recent Venezuelans registration exercise allowing Venezuelans to work in this country for a year.
During the debate, Independent Senator Varma Deyalsingh said nationals should be tolerant of Venezuelans.
However, Imbert said while Government has nothing against Venezuelans, it also has to protect citizens since certain NIS payments facilitate large benefits.
He noted that an $11 NIS payment would allow injuries benefits for 52 weeks and other minimal NIS payments would allow maternity benefits plus maternity leave.
But he said the migrants may put a strain on the system, since “a lot of them are already pregnant.”
He also noted many of them have children with them.
Imbert said the 2018 NIB report pointed out that the NIS Fund carried a $226m deficit and there was a big shortfall between its contribution and outflow levels. (GAIL ALEXANDER)