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Requirements for work permit renewals relaxed - Hon Wheatley

- said several employers owe back taxes to Gov't
Hon Vincent O. Wheatley on Friday, July 10, 2020, had announced that work permit renewals for expats will be dependent on good standing with the Social Security Board, Inland Revenue Department and National Health Insurance, as well as the certificates of earnings from the Social Security Board and Inland Revenue Department. Photo: VINO/File
Hon Vincent O. Wheatley said Government assistance will be provided to employers for the creator of the payment plans so that balances can be paid.
Hon Vincent O. Wheatley said Government assistance will be provided to employers for the creator of the payment plans so that balances can be paid.
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration, Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9) has announced that strict requirements for work permit renewals in the COVID-19 era will be relaxed as a result of a number of concerns.

The Minister on Friday, July 10, 2020, had announced that work permit renewals for expats will be dependent on good standing with the Social Security Board, Inland Revenue Department and National Health Insurance, as well as the certificates of earnings from the Social Security Board and Inland Revenue Department.

However, the Minister at yesterday's, July 21, 2020, sitting of the House of Assembly (HoA) said many employers owe back taxes which would prevent some employees from getting their work permits renewed.

Dues still have to be collected - Hon Wheatley 

'It has been brought to my attention that there are many employers who have large outstanding balances and are unable to make a one-time payment to qualify for the certificates."

He said it is not the Government's intention to turn business persons into criminals, giving the current pandemic and past natural disasters.

"Many businesses are still recovering from the devastations of 2017, we have decided to relax the requirements, just a bit, as we still have to collect our dues," Hon Wheatley said.

Gov't to assist with payment plan creation

"Having said that, I wish to make it clear that those businesses not in Good Standing will be allowed to renew work permits once they present a payment plan. We do understand the difficulties faced by many and it is never our intention to make things even more difficult."

Hon Wheatley said Government assistance will be provided to employers for the creation of the payment plans so that balances can be settled.

"These plans can be attached to the renewal work permit application which the Department of Labour and Workforce Development will accept to process the renewals."

10 Responses to “Requirements for work permit renewals relaxed - Hon Wheatley ”

  • ABC (22/07/2020, 22:16) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply
    It’s about time!
  • I thought so... (23/07/2020, 04:45) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    I wondered about that and more in your last few news statements. Minister please do your research before announcing or stating stuff. There is a lot going on. Get the nectar and make your decisions based on that valid juice. It is not fair especially to those on permits, whose deductions are done, and employers still do not pay.
  • Ghost (23/07/2020, 07:09) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Good move Hon. Wheatley for it’s not always the employee’s fault that their contributions are not paid in resulting in them being penalized ..it’s also a good gesture on Gov’t part to assist employers.. Hurricane Irma took us back to the ‘50’s and businesses are still struggling..Empathy is an excellent quality!. Good job!..
  • wellness (23/07/2020, 07:41) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    EMLPOYER WHO DEDUCT MONEY FROM THEIR EMPLOYEE AND DONT PAY IN TO NHI ,SS ETC AMOUNTS TO THEFT.
    WHICH EVER WAY YOU LOOK AT IT ,ITS THEFT AND SHOULD BE PROSECUTED ACCORDING TO OUR FINANCIAL LAWS. AND THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING YEARS AND YEARS BEFORE IRMA ETC .
    • look (23/07/2020, 13:34) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
      The BVI Government is now driving the get away vehicle for the employee robbers. The crime of Accessory After the Fact requires knowledge on the driver’s part of the fact that a crime was committed and that he then did some act that assisted the main subject in avoiding arrest, prosecution or punishment? Would this apply to the girlfriend who alibis up her guy to the investigator? Has she assisted him in avoiding arrest, after she has knowledge of his criminal activities, or hides him knowing the cops are looking for him? If the evidence is there, she goes to jail.
  • Tolian (23/07/2020, 08:10) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Utterly shameful...its not the emplyees fault at all.....if the employers didn't pay the contributions before what makes you think they gonna pay them now. The blatant disregard to stealing by these companies (because that is what it is..taking from employees and not paying it in) by successive governments over the last 20-30 years is appalling....they friad to name and shame the businesses because they are VIP or NDP supporters...meanwhile govt bawling about money and we who struggle and contribute diligently every month all afriad our pension won't exist when we come to retire.
    All governments need to stop playing ostrich and burying their heads in the sand with this issue...its unbelievably applying they let people get away with this...shame on all governments of the past and present.
  • bvi (23/07/2020, 10:43) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    How come it's the employee that seems to get the dirty end of the stick , when these employers deducting the taxes every pay period and not paying it in to the different entities? why don't these businesses have to get certificates of good standing in order to get their trade licenses approved..
  • taxman (23/07/2020, 10:43) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Why have the govt not been collecting taxes from employers yet they are hammering the employees with taxes and charges at every step? Maybe if they started to collect what was owed from the local businesses they would not have to charge the wire fees on people who are not earning large amounts and who have already been deducted SSB/NHI/Payroll tax contributions. The owners of these non paying businesses should be named and shamed although maybe it is their names and connections that the govt want to protect while squeezing every cent from the little people?
  • Why Why Why? (23/07/2020, 11:19) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The minister still doesn't answer why all this paperwork can't be taken care of with just one e-mail - one enquiry sent to three departments - from the folks at Labour?
  • A (23/07/2020, 13:21) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    All unfair game must must play again remember God sit high but he looks low


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