During the month of March, the COVID-19 regulations were imposed upon the nation with the notion that you sanitise and remain at home leave only if there is a urgent need. Most public and private employees remained at home, some with pay and others not so lucky.
A stimulus plan was introduced through the National Insurance Board, that a sum of $2,000 be given for three months to those employees who make NIS contributions monthly and were not being paid a salary due to the shutdown of their place of employment.
This has flopped in two ways— some have not to date received any payment, although they have applied, secondly, there are dishonest employers who have deducted NIS contributions from employees monthly, but have refused to make these payments to the board.
We the people of T&T would have learnt something from this virus scare that will make us a better State.
Our health system laws and the injustice been handed down to those at the lower end of our employee and employer relationship need to be addressed.
The health system needs to be regulated and the laws enforced. One example is continuous visits by health inspectors to food establishments and roadside food vendors, and premises where food is prepared.
We need to address the situation where employers are taking advantage of employees by deducting National Insurance contributions but are not submitting them to the NIB. This deprives those in need of every dollar at the twilight of retirement.
These employers ought to be investigated and speedily brought before the Courts of T&T.
