SOME organisations/employers are still engaging in bad management practices and indulging in illegal acts, by failing to remit workers’ National Insurance Scheme (NIS) contributions, income tax deductions, and other deductions to the relevant authorities. So said Minister of Labour, Dr. Nanda Gopaul while addressing the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) fifth delegates’conference on Wednesday.

Minister Gopaul disclosed that some workers are still reporting that their NIS contributions and deductions have not been submitted to the various authorities, and this is a matter which will be looked at keenly by the ministry and the trade unions.
“Any employer found guilty of this act will face the full force of the law… There will be no ifs or buts, because income tax and other deductions once taken out from the workers’ salaries must be submitted to the relevant authorities promptly,” he said.
He added that for instance, NIS benefits should be remitted to the NIS so that workers should have their protection and sickness benefits immediately, upon filing their claims.
Apart from failing to submit the deductions, some employers have also reportedly used workers’ monies for their own purposes. This he noted is unacceptable to the ministry and the trade unions.
According to Minister Gopaul, this injustice to the workers will definitely be looked into and the ones found guilty of these infractions will be dealt with accordingly, because employers should abide by the law.
Meanwhile, FITUG’s President Carvil Duncan expressed his concern over the matter, when he also disclosed at the same forum that, “we have encountered serious difficulties by the resistance of some employers, who have been resisting trade union rights, and on the other hand who have been collecting workers’ dues and not paying it [sic] over to the trade unions and other relevant authorities.”
RECENT ISSUE
Duncan referenced an issue which involved management of the Tower Hotel Guyana pressuring their workers by closing their doors and failing to make payments and other owed benefits to the affected workers.
“Thanks to the Ministry of Labour, the hotel was forced to explain its behaviour of not meeting its commitment to its workers, in keeping with the laws in the courts of Guyana,” said FITUG’s head.
In closing, he noted that there are many similar issues affecting workers across Guyana and FITUG along with the Ministry of Labour will carry out intense investigations into these matters and ensure that they are resolved in a timely and appropriate manner.