Mather calls for unemployment insurance scheme
Territorial At-Large Representative Stacy Mather has called for an unemployment insurance plan to assist persons who suffer job loss due to unforeseen events like the COVID pandemic and the 2017 hurricanes.
Speaking in the House of Assembly earlier this week, Mather asked the Minister for Health and Social Development, Vincent Wheatley, about the government’s commitment to setting up this social security net.
In response, Wheatley said unemployment insurance is something that has been explored by successive BVI administrations, adding that the ministry will be working with the Social Security Board (SSB) to see how such a system could be brought into commission.
“Successive governments have explored the possible implementation of an unemployment insurance system. Evidence of such dates as far back as 2005. Based on the information provided to me by SSB – as recently as May 2020 – another unemployment benefit system was commissioned and completed by Mr. Derrick Osbourne,” Minister Wheatley said.
“In the coming weeks, the ministry will continue to liaise with the SSB to assess the information already available on the proposed system and then further analyze the most feasible approach to achieving this outcome,” Wheatley added.
Unemployment insurance is a social safety net that could work similar to the National Insurance Scheme, which deducts funds from salaries, which are used to assist persons in times of need.
BVI ministries and government departments are often accused of misusing funds collected under social security schemes.
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The people’s representatives can’t even fix any of that which is currently broken, and you want the people to trust you with something new (even though it is a valid concern)? Is there not enough that needs immediate attention and correction that you and the 12 other elected members should be more focused on?
I could be very wrong, but the general consensus out here in the ‘woods’, is that we the people are really becoming restless regardless of party lines and family associations! The incompetence on display is alarming!
If we start paying people not to work, people will stop working. Look at what has happened in every country where they pay people not to work. We already pay thousands of public servants to do nothing jobs counting paper clips, surfing the internet on their office computers, and making our lives difficult – we need to downsize the public service by 50% and if we offer pay for not working those individuals will never work again.
Basic economics Sir …. the population of the BVI simply DOES NOT have enough people to support your socialist agenda!
In all things you need balance!
We are no bigger than a U.S or European Village. You ever heard of them developing such schemes? These villages are dependent on a far larger countrywide population to sustain any programs.
That is why this will fail and why NHI is failing.
How none of you fools get that basic concept is beyond me!
Well …. there are other reasons but none that put Country and your people first!
People already don’t want to pay NHI and SS, so who is going to contribute to the unemployment insurance? It’s not magic, it can only work with adequate contributions being made.
Do people realise that when folks earn more than $49,000 per year they stop making any additional social security contributions?
There are plenty lawyers, politicians and business managers earning way more than $49,000. I am one of these people. It seems fair to me that I should pay more in, perhaps only 0.5% or a small amount for amounts over $100,000 with no upper cap. This increase could be use to provide an unemployment benefit for residents. Long term work permit holders ought to be entitled to claim too: there were too many people left unpaid during covid when they were furloughed and there was no financial safety net for them despite them having paid into the social security fund.
We first need to understand what is the financial position and projection of the SSB before even considering adding any further benefits. There need to be an investigation into how the SSB came to own the Joe Hill Manor, ppl may have to go to jail and appropriate controls implemented. This cannot be a re-election gimmic; this is not a game
“No no no no”, You talking pure foolishness!
The fact of the matter, is about unemployment insurance, which is so critical in the lives of working men and women, regardless of age.
Here in America, unemployment insurance, last for six months. Trust me, those payments, does help to stave off starvation, while persons seek other forms of
employment!
And it should be no different in this country!
It is a vital and necessary tool, that protects the average worker, and should be implemented, RIGHT AWAY!
this country
UBI is a better alternative.
More than half the working population is on work permits. If any Belonger youth or other people have no jobs, then they can take over a permit job, such as waitressing, cleaning roads, etc. It’s what people have to do in every other small country.
Where exactly will all this magic money come from Mr. Mather?
No no no we are just not ready for something like that. Cone back to earth boo
Hey diddle diddle,
The Cat and the Fiddle,
The Cow jump’d over the Moon,
The little dog laugh’d to see such Sport,
And the Fork ran away with the Spoon.
We might as well be reciting nursery rhymes now. We elected a bunch of amateurs who don’t have a clue what it takes to make a country work.
To lodger, you steal my name and cant even get the ryme right.
You know what also need to be set up,a online software that allows employees to check their contributions,this bullshit system and policy that currently exists is only protecting gov,friends and family who shear relationships with gov,people need to see and know if there contributions are being paid because at the end of the day when retirement comes employees will feel the head while their money being deducted,so this shitty system need to be stop.
If BVI people understood the AMOUNT of money that’s in the treasury, they will stop making excuses as to why the unemployed not supposed to benefit from the funds. HELLOOOO the govt already not doing anything with yall hard earned dollars, might as well find good use for it. Their minimum wage ain’t cutting it, might as well suck funds from the direct source directly to your pockets.
Who have hand in cookie jar?
NO THANKS!!!
can you all ask the companies to enforce the pension plans. lots of companies are not doing it and that’s illegal
Its needed… Especially if government is going to keep going with social security’s money like its their piggy bank. However, please don’t make it something mandatory and useless like NHI.