Don’t penalise employees for employers’ tax failings — Fraser
Opposition Leader Julian Fraser has criticised the government for its tactics, arguing that employees should not be penalised for their failures in remitting taxes and making the required contributions to the National Health Insurance (NHI) and to Social Security.
The legislator was speaking in the House of Assembly (HOA) where he said it was “a little much“ to ask an employee to ensure their employer secures a Good Standing Certificate before the employee’s s work permit can be renewed.
Good Standing Certificates are required in order for a business to be issued with work permits, but this had not traditionally been enforced.
After it was enforced by former Labour Minister Vincent Wheatley, bottlenecks began to appear in the system causing severe delays in work permit processing and the new system was subsequently “relaxed”.
“I think if you have an issue with the employer, you should settle it with the employer and not the employee,” Fraser stated.
Fraser has previously questioned the government’s intent on the issue, asking at the time what the Labour Department could get from the employer’s certificate that it could not get from the employee’s certificate instead.
“Employees shouldn’t have to know whether I did my good standing or not. It’s not his business. He needs to know if I paid his Social Security and NHI, he needs to know that,” the Opposition Leader argued.
In instances where payments have not been remitted for the employee, Fraser said once this has been discovered, the employee needs to report it to the relevant agency.
“It’s not his responsibility to make sure that you go and pay Social Security, it’s Social Security‘s responsibility to make sure he comes in and pays Social Security. So don’t penalise an individual by not giving them their work permit,” Fraser argued.
He said legislators need to be careful they don’t infringe on things that made the Virgin Islands what it is as they create laws.
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Obviously
Fraser is definitely the man–boop boop!
LUV it when our representative is aired in a positive way on the news
is coming to all these delinquent employers that fail to pay their employee’s monthly SS and NHI. If no progress by Unity party then direct UK rule will enforce the law.
Then he will say don’t penalize small local businesses who have had it rough, so who pays the bill Fraser? WHO? This guy wants rent free for businesses, loan forgiveness for everyone, don’t charge this, don’t charge that, hire all locals, make them owners, WTF? Seems this guy is losing his mind, honestly.
He is looking out for the small man because nobody else is doing it
fraser is the only one speaking on behalf of the people
Starting a campaign in the House of Assembly for the 2023 election does not demonstrate caring for small businesses. Please don’t be so gullible and easily fooled.
Agree 100%. Some of these employers are committing outright theft from their employees and thé employer is not held responsible. As an employer there were some months I would not pay myself so that my employee’s payments were submitted for BVI SS & NHI. Also, an employee should NOT have to approach their employer to tell/ask them to pay outstanding BVI SS and NHI payments to receive a renewed work permit. That should be the responsibility of BVI SS. Laws need to be designed, implemented and enforced that an employer will be held responsible. PERIOD.
All’s this employer needs to pay s.s.curity every moths and stop get this ? for something else
His statement is fair enough but it must be coupled with serious prosecution of those delinquent (thieving) employers.
It doesnt happen because the worse of the offenders are the government members and their elite cronies. The Inland Revenue should publish a list of serious defaulters, say over3 months late.
The public would be shocked and appalled.
Can I give this 100 upvotes?!
and its the employees who had to pay $20. for the certificate just to find out it was not being paid.
stealth tax on the ex-pats
when they all leave you will then wonder why the place is falling to peices
I am saying the truth but persons disliking the post what are you one of those employers?
FRASER CARES
Lets see a list of employers who steal from the SSB & NHI and the employee. Thats exactly what their doing. A person looking for a job can see who’s a sleeze
Fraser FOREVER.
Fraser to the rescue
Thank you Sir. Victimized twice. Employers stealing from them and the government then government turning around and penalizing the ones being robbed instead of the robbers. What a ting.
I see that as a money making business to continue bleeding the over charged expats, I think is 65$ for all 3 papers
All these employers withholding their employees monies should be ashamed of themselves. This is straight up theft and should be prosecuted to the full extend of the law. How our elected officials continue to allow this to happen baffles me. Every year it the same story, someone not getting benefits because the employer failure to pay in the deductions they take from employees salary. This is wrong and they have no justifiable reason for doing this nor the government officials for allowing this to go so far. All involve should be made to payable fine towards the employee retirement benefits.
This is especially for the male employers. STOP giving your employees contribution to your girlfriends/side chick/mistress or others. This is wrong.
To all Employers: How would you feel if someone did this to your beloved children. I know you have and would kick-up a storm/ create all kinds a drama if this was done to one of them. Some would be at the same SS/NHI offices and to government officials demanding something be done. Use that same mindset and pay your employees monies into the system.
THIS HAS BEEN GOING BIN FOR YEARS , AND TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY , VG HOLEWEATLee USED MONEY GRAM AND WESTERN UNION TAKE ADVANTAGE OF PEOPLE BY DOUBLE TAXING THEM /MORE EVILNESS – SAINT ANDREW BEAT HIS CHEST AND SAID ( I GOT 2 MILLIONS FROM THOSE NI**AS ) SO WHERE WERE YOU MR 3RD DISTRICT ? ❓
Time to stop giving work permits. Sort out the belonged first.
when belonger start to want to work in the hot sun and want to start cleaning job then it should definitely stop.
When all is said and done no one defends employees, especially expats, where is the system to protect tax paying individuals, expats are the ones suffering unfairly, the worse is yet to come and more people in authority will be punished for their dishonesty shortly, evil has already began to slay the wicked/s