There is an issue that needs urgent attention and clarification. It has to do with the Stimulus Plan, specifically the payroll support. Some employers seem to be of the opinion that it is the responsibility of the government to pay their employees. Let me correct this misconception.
The Employer is obligated to pay their employee the full 100%% of their salaries. And upon presenting their information to government which entails up to date wage tax, szv premiums, profit tax and tot, it will be determined what percentage of the 100% will be refunded to that employer.
What is happening at present is that certain employers are paying their employees 80%, 70% and 60% of their salaries, stating that government will pay the employee the difference. This is totally incorrect. I even heard of a Hotel paying its workers $150 every two weeks awaiting the payroll support from government which is completely in contravention of the labor laws.
As I mentioned before, the employer has to pay the full salary. The possibility exists for the employee to make an arrangement with their employer as to what they will or will not accept. I am not ignorant of the fact that after the hurricanes “Irma” and “Maria” and prior to such St. Maarten’s economy was struggling and I appreciate the fact that businesses reopened and some new ones came on stream. This meant job creation and an ease on the Social responsibility structure.
I must remind these institutions that the funds given to them who comply and are eligible for this assistance is a donation. However, for government it is a loan. In addition to this, let me remind these employers that the submission of false information is punishable by law. Ironically what I noticed when comparing the amount of businesses registered at the Chamber of Commerce and the amount requesting assistance from the stimulus plan there is a great disparity.
My conclusions are twofold; some of these companies have closed their doors and not reported such to the chamber of commerce or their taxes are not up to date. This exposes the noncompliance factor. This is why in my opinion, the civil apparatus should be reinforced and not reduced. Once properly staffed and equipped we will be better prepared to meet the social economic responsibility of government.
I am cognizant of the fact that when this article appears in the daily herald mother’s day as is celebrated on May 10, 2020 would have already passed. But I want to take this opportunity to say to the most important of God’s creation the mothers of human kind a blessed and wonderful mother’s day. Someone said when it comes to a computer, we talk about the motherboard, we call the planet mother earth these two references alone place the importance of a woman and by extension a mother. Again God bless you all, for me every day is mother’s day.
