BVI News

No more delays! Employers instructed to pay severance

Wheatley

Labour Minister Vincent Wheatley has announced the official end of the extension for the ‘lay-off period’ and is instructing employers to begin paying severance to their staff immediately.

Wheatley made this declaration in the House of Assembly Wednesday afternoon, March 10 — roughly one year after the extension took effect.

“Employees are the most important asset of a business and compensation should be delayed no further,” the minister stated.

“I ask here today that employers make the necessary arrangements with employees to bring outstanding payments current,” he added.

For those who are unable to honour their full obligations to employees, Wheatley said they are required to visit the Department of Labour & Workforce Development to get assistance in developing plans to make outstanding payments.

He said these payment plans must be “mutually agreed” between employers and employees.

Persons can get assistance regarding severance payments by visiting the Labour Department in person or by contacting a Labour Relations Officer at 284-468-4739 OR 284-468-4713.

Persons can also reach out to the department via email at [email protected].

Series of extensions

Back in June 2020, government extended the territory’s maximum layoff period from the usual three months to seven months, due to the COVID-19 pandemic which continues to significantly impact most businesses in the BVI.

According to law, this allows employers to lay off their staff for a time beyond the previously-allotted three months before they are allowed to disburse severance pay.

The first extension was due to expire on October 31, 2020, but following widespread pleas from business owners across the territory, the government added another three months to the lay-off period, which pushed the expiration period to January 31, 2021.

The date was then pushed to February 28, 2021.

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22 Comments

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  1. SMH says:

    About time!

    Like 17
    Dislike 3
  2. LOL says:

    So Government killed businesses and now they are burying them? Absolutely awesome, wow!

    Like 30
    Dislike 14
  3. vg resident says:

    If a company has no funds , then what.

    Like 22
    Dislike 3
  4. Rubber Duck says:

    They don’t care about business.
    Everything they do tries to drive it into the ground
    Luckily this bunch of clowns will soon be gone.

    Like 20
    Dislike 11
    • @Rubber Duck says:

      You European t**t! All y’all know about is free labour but slavery done long time!

      Like 4
      Dislike 6
      • Rubber Duck says:

        In any civilized country the government supports workers when it’s policies drive companies out of business.

        This gang bankrupts businesses then demands they pay the laid off workers. How are they supposed to do that? It’s the workers who suffer.

        Gedditt?

        Like 6
        Dislike 2
    • Thanks says:

      Totally agree with Brittany!!!

  5. What!!! says:

    And who will force a bolonger to pay an “island worker “ if they don’t want to ?

    Like 20
    Dislike 3
  6. What!!! says:

    And who will force a bolonger to pay an “island worker “ if they don’t want to ?

    Like 12
    Dislike 4
  7. @ ASKING says:

    It’s me again > blame it on the uk AGAIN jasper

    Like 1
    Dislike 2
  8. Concern says:

    What’s about the employers thats not paying the social NHI and inland revenue for their employees .

    Like 17
  9. Concern says:

    We need answers what is it that government doing with the employers that’s deducting the social NHI and inland revenue and they not paying it

    Like 21
  10. Pro Business says:

    Businesses were given an extra nine months, which is generous. It’s not fair to make the employees bear the entire burden of the pandemic. Now, has the government created a pro-business climate? Not really. There is a lot they could and should have done. The extent of the problems will become clearer. At some point, even government workers will feel the pain.

  11. Johnny Bravo says:

    S- I- one them that dont pay them staff! They want you leave on your own before u get anything from them… setta wicked ppl!

  12. Not trying to be mean says:

    Will m**** being paying us ours it’s been a whole year and nothing have been done . We need our money. Speaking on behalf of all M** workers who didnt received a penny from him .
    . Mr Wheatley

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