Exploitation from PPP era continues in the heart of GT

Sep 13, 2018 Letters

Dear Editor,
Some of the atrocities of the past regime still linger on. A former Minister who allegedly had a relationship with a staff at the Ministry of Housing, in an act of patronage, assisted the sister of his paramour to set up a snackette just under the nose of the Ministry of Housing with a branch at Sophia exhibition centre.
This is no Mickey Mouse business, since apart from supplying its two centers it also supplies Banks DIH locations with pastries. It also does catering for large events. The anomaly of this business is that it has its kitchen at the proprietor’s home where it employs six women who works from 5am to 4pm, sometimes later in the afternoon.
The owner does not deduct, neither pays NIS contributions for its workers. It offers no annual or maternity leave to its workers. When questioned by the workers, the proprietrix response is- “If you all report me anywhere I will declare bankrupt-you all won’t get anything and you all would be out of a job.”
Someone did report to NIS during the PPP reign. Being under the umbrage of the Minister she had promised the NIS officers to start paying but never did.
The irony of this situation is that while she does not contribute for her workers, herself and husband continues to pay their NIS contribution as self employed. It seems that they somehow managed to cajole the staff at NIS that the two of them (husband and wife) alone work in the business or someone from NIS colluded with the proprietress to defraud these women (workers) of accumulating contributions to receive future benefits from NIS.
Some of these women have over ten years’ service with this business and never had any annual leave or maternity benefits.
It is sad that in the heart of Georgetown women are being exploited in this manner. This is not conducive to the good life promised by the coalition. I would like the people from the Labour Ministry and NIS to investigate this business. This mistreatment of our women workers must stop.
Advocate for workers.

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