[UPDATED] Nurses: Government not making NIS payments
Paula Lindo
TT Registered Nurses Association (TTRNA) president Idi Stuart has said members of his association have discovered the government has not made payments to the National Insurance Board (NIB) on their behalf.
He is calling on the government to address the issue urgently.
Speaking to Newsday by phone on September 4, Stuart said the issue had been raised after a meeting on September 3 with the Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM), of which the union is a part.
“When our members, and all public servants, go to the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) office and ask for a printout of their yearly contributions, they are seeing missing payments.
“These payments are not going to NIS even though they are being deducted from workers’ salaries. NIS is saying they are not coming in to us. How can the NIB not have a record of contributions not being paid from the employer to the NIB?
“This is the government doing this, not private people. We are concerned that government is taking from the poor to give to the rich – a reverse Robin Hood.”
He said the association was currently researching how many of its members had been affected. He said members of several other unions had been affected.
In a WhatsApp response to questions from Newsday, Northwest Regional Health Authority (NWRHA) CEO Anthony Blake said he was not aware of missing payments.
“However, once they query this with the payroll department, it can be verified. Mr Stuart should direct them to the payroll department. They will be more than happy to clarify same.”
Southwest Regional Health Authority (SWRHA) CEO Dr Brian Armour said the authority was fully compliant and up to date with all its statutory obligations.
“However, in the unlikely circumstance that any employee may be concerned about or wishes to be provided with information on their payment to the scheme, they are invited to visit our Finance Department at their nearest facility or contact our internal Employee Solutions Desk.”
The National Insurance Board website says, “Where payment is not made by the 15th of the month following the month for which contributions are due a penalty equivalent to 25 per cent of the sum due will be charged to the employer.
“Should NIB’s investigations reflect that the employer has failed to pay contributions due to the board, he commits an offence. This offence carries a penalty of $4,000 and six months’ imprisonment. The employer will now have to pay the outstanding contributions as well as the penalty.”
This story was originally published with the title “Nurses: Government not making NIS payments” and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.
TRINIDAD and Tobago Registered Nurses Association (TTRNA) president Idi Stuart has said members of his association have discovered the government has not made payments to the National Insurance Board (NIB) on their behalf.
He is calling on the government to address the issue urgently.
Speaking to Newsday by phone on September 4, Stuart said the issue had been raised after a meeting on September 3 with the Joint Trade Union Movement (JTUM), of which the union is a part.
“When our members go to the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) office and ask for a printout of their contributions, they are seeing missing payments.
“These payments are not going to NIS even though they are being deducted from workers’ salaries.
“This is the government doing this, not private people. We are concerned that government is taking from the poor to give to the rich – a reverse Robin Hood.”
He said the association was currently researching how many of its members had been affected. He said members of several other unions had been affected.
The association met with the Health Ministry and representatives of the regional health authorities on September 3 to discuss several issues, including nurse retention strategies; permanent employment in the Northwest Regional Health Authority (NWRHA); scholarships and grants for postgraduate programmes; stipends for University of the Southern Caribbean and UWI nursing students; health-sector accreditation; delayed increment and pension payments; motor vehicle tax exemption for travelling officers; amending the Nursing Personnel Act; improving the compensation levels of nursing and midwifery personnel; creating new nursing levels according to the TTRNA draft collective agreement to allow greater opportunities for promotion; and filling existing vacancies in nursing management.
Stuart said Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh said many of the changes being requested would need legislative changes and new legislation, which might not be possible, as the government had set its legislative agenda for the upcoming year.
He said the minister said the government was in a financial crunch and the nurses should not be asking for more.
But Stuart said the nurses used to have many of the benefits being requested and were asking for them to be reinstated, including permanent employment with the NWRHA, pension payments and motor vehicle tax exemption for travelling officers.