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Pay employees their severance! - Labour Minister urges businesses

- as extension of lay-off period officially ended on February 28, 2021
Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Environment, Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9) at today’s March 10, 2021, Sixth Sitting of the Third Session of the Fourth House of Assembly (HoA) urged employees to pay severance. Photo: VINO/File
The Labour Minister said that the Government has done all that it can to allow for employers to be properly prepared to make the relevant payments, however, assistance will be made available. Photo: GIS/File
The Labour Minister said that the Government has done all that it can to allow for employers to be properly prepared to make the relevant payments, however, assistance will be made available. Photo: GIS/File
DUFF'S BOTTOM, Tortola, VI – Employers have been directed to pay severance to persons who have would have been laid off as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, as the layoff extension period for both employees and employers officially ended on February 28, 2021.

Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration, Hon Vincent O. Wheatley (R9) issued the directive at today’s March 10, 2021, continuation of the Sixth Sitting of the Third Session of the Fourth House of Assembly (HoA) at the Save the Seed Energy Centre in Duff's Bottom, Tortola.

Pay up! - Hon Wheatley 

Hon Wheatley said while the Labour Code Amendment Act 2020, which extended the lay-off period from 3 months, had also suspended severance payment, further extensions to the period ended in February and businesses must now make moves to pay employees what is due.

“Employees are the most important asset of a business and compensation should be delayed no further. Mr Speaker, I ask here today that employers make the necessary arrangements with employees to bring outstanding payments current,” Hon Wheatley said.

The Labour Minister said the Government has done all that it can to allow for employers to be properly prepared to make the relevant payments; however, assistance will be made available. 

Labour Department will offer assistance 

“Those who may be unable to honour their full obligations to employees, are required to visit the Department of Labour and Workforce Development to gain assistance in developing plans to make these outstanding payments and make them in line with a mutual plan for their employees,” he said.

Hon Wheatley remarked that the Labour Department is ready and available to offer guidance to businesses on the way forward and he also urged employers to be considerate and pay up. 

The Minister said employees who would like more information can either visit in person or contact a Labour Relations Officer at 468-4739 and 468-4713.

19 Responses to “Pay employees their severance! - Labour Minister urges businesses”

  • wisdom (10/03/2021, 20:47) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    make them pay they have money some are hiring persons to work for big money and other people are at home bitting they nails looking for a ways how to make it time enough pay up please
  • Regular man (10/03/2021, 20:58) Like (5) Dislike (21) Reply
    Y’all got the place lock down and want employers pay workers ? That’s crazy
  • next (10/03/2021, 21:04) Like (10) Dislike (0) Reply
    time enough wow
    • Sound like a Gimik. (11/03/2021, 07:23) Like (14) Dislike (0) Reply
      I agree 100% that employers they had more than enogh time to figure this out, . The government been on the employers side for too long,,, Here is where I am skeptical, I would have want to see a date given as to when this payment must be completed, for example, "Employers have up until August 1st to payout their employees" That would sound like seriousness, as it is, its like a gimmik....Also, I would add, that employers must provide atlease 20hrs work a week for employees or no work permit renewal,,, Time to get serious..
  • Hmm (10/03/2021, 21:08) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    Give me my money !!!
  • ... (11/03/2021, 01:13) Like (8) Dislike (5) Reply
    The vip government is the best I voting Vincent
  • Thankfull (11/03/2021, 05:21) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    that doesn't mean that they don't have money some might have a little difficulty but those big ones aren't they can pay this is to long you can't afford to pay but you can afford to hire big boys and pay them Vincent don't let them get away I am still not working waiting on my work place not even a meeting to keep us up to date with what's going on I think that people in the hotel industry should be treated like humans and not like slaves not just making money for the owners pockets they just don't care it is time government take a stand and make sure they are doing the right thing and not breaking the law they need us and we need them staff afraid to complain because they don't want to lose their jobs this is going on too long
  • Dear Sir (11/03/2021, 08:48) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    I am apealing to you to give a break to persons who were laid off due to the pandemic and are here 10 years and over some 20 and over from leaving the country if they are able to get employment elsewhere while their work permit is being transfered, , please consider these people would have to quarantine where they go and still quarantine when they come back, money is tight they did nothing to deserve this hastle please please give them a break to remain in the country while the new permit is being processed, I beg of you, I also think it would help lessen the spread of covid-19
    THANK YOU SIR
  • civil servant (11/03/2021, 10:18) Like (1) Dislike (4) Reply
    Pay me my increment.
  • Dancing in the sunshine (11/03/2021, 12:38) Like (0) Dislike (3) Reply

    It is quite confusing to me. Knowing the state of some business, I wonder where will the money come from. With all the curfew and restrictions from overseas tourists, some businesses are struggling to stay afloat and now the Hon. Minister is calling on businesses to pay Severance. Lets hope for the best.

  • @ GIMIC (11/03/2021, 15:20) Like (0) Dislike (30) Reply
    HE IS ONLY INTERESTING IN THE PEOPLE WHO WORKED HONESTLY FOR THEIR MONEY AND HOW MUCH WAS SENT THROUGH MONEY GRAM AND WESTERN UNION BUT NOT HOW MUCH IS SPENT ON FOOD WATER ELECTRICITY CABLE RENT JUST TO NAME A FEW HE IS LIKE A CHICKEN HAWK
  • Future (11/03/2021, 17:30) Like (2) Dislike (7) Reply
    Do you prefer businesses closing and more employees out of work? How can you force businesses to pay employees and the Government continues to choke businesses? USVI is booming, hospitality is making money and persons working!! Do any of these government guys owns or run successful businesses? I am tired of parliamentarians playing politics and making decisions and not thinking it through or seeking the right guidance!
  • wisdom (11/03/2021, 18:22) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    talking foolishness from day one they know very well that they will have to pay out the staff if things don't improve so what are you saying they are broke I don't think so the government let them get away toooo long
  • not fair (11/03/2021, 18:51) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    we have staff not working and some of these work places are calling other workers to come back to the Bvi to work what kind of stupid mess is that this is madness true this is what going on this is wrong you all people need to pay off the staff this is happening at one of the big hotels people here not working waiting and being left hanging
  • omg (11/03/2021, 19:29) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    why are they hiring and bringing back staff from overseas government needs to look in this
  • watch it (12/03/2021, 06:42) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    What about all the person who where force to leave without there servants pay this man had it plan to have person leave to Lessing the amount of person the business have to pay And now he finally stop extending the deadline he feel he smart god don’t sleep
  • ?? (12/03/2021, 10:20) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    so when government is gong to pay their employees their increment.. going on 5 years nowwwww...
  • Optimist (13/03/2021, 09:13) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Yes Mr. Wheatley, paying the serverence is right; however, we need better planning on how to achieve payments. The struggling economy will not recover without the help of banks, landowners, respectively government entities. The N.H.I is tedious for work permit holders to receive a simple certificate ( yes and this should solely be the employers responsible) . My sugesstion is for government body to provide a single department within social security and NHI for compliance track upkeep.

    Bank: More loans should be offered with reasonable payment plans, just to keep the economy a float .Landowners: We should realize it's a worldwide crisis and we all need each other in strange and bindings ways. Without all our inputs the dominoes effects are inevitable. If the employers can't pay their employees, the employees can't pay their rents ,eat at our restaurants and shop at our stores. Eventually we will have to shutter our business, because we could not come up with more effective ways to deal with a world on life support. The B.V.I is too devided, "UNITED WE STAND ,DIVIDED WE SHALL FALL". Prayer for our youths.
  • RedStorm (14/03/2021, 17:58) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
    how many employers do have the severance to pay their employees? some employer count on their employees each day to show up to work, but it is sad when it comes to paying them its all tooth and nails biting , days before they come with the meager pay check. Now the severance that should have been in a separate account for the employees, so that when hard time hit, it show that they have some money to pay their employees. Living big taking cruises and Disney vacation on the backs of their employees. Some of you will get sued. This is another thing to add to the list, no salary, no NHI, No Social Security, no vacation, no severance. It is wise to let you neighbour know who not to work with.


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