De Peiza wants more transparency from Gov’t on state of NIS

Leader of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) Verla De Peiza, is calling for more transparency from Government on the state of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and other similar funds, as workers in the tourism sector continue to highlight what they say is a lack of information.

Speaking at the end of a meeting with just over 30 workers at DLP headquarters, George Street, on Saturday, De Peiza said that transparency is what workers have been asking for as they become more frustrated with the absence of information they seek.

“Two queries that could not be answered, and that we need answers for as a matter of urgency; is whether the National Insurance fast track system that was promised under the B.E.S.T programme has already been set up; and whether the oversight committee that has been promised has already been set up,” De Peiza said. 

“If either of them has been set up, then we need to know in relation to the fast track, what time limits are placed on the fast track because we are dealing with persons who are no longer employed, who still have financial obligations, and that is really their critical concern.”

The DLP leader also said that the usual complaints she has been receiving from tourism sector workers, seem to indicate that too many business owners appear to be running afoul of rules and regulations that are in place to protect workers.

“It is not the majority, but there are some of them, and I won’t say hotels because they were not just hotels, but some of the affected businesses are not following what was expected of them and therefore we need to know what the process is. We are calling on Government to expand on that; not just what was written in the handout that was given, but to give some specifics so that they [former tourism industry workers] know what their next steps can be,” she added. (SB)