Theft of workers NIS, PAYE, VAT is criminal (Pt 2)

Dear Editor,
As a gentle advisory, I wish to highlight that under the Private Security Act 2009, Section 3 and Section 4 of the laws of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, it is the Commissioner of Police who has more authority than the NIS and GRA to suspend or close down a security firm. Almost instantaneously, he can take the relevant action to curb the abuse of the requisite standards a security firm is expected to adhere to. With this in mind, GRA and the NIS must therefore involve the Commissioner of Police as the “Controlling Authority” for such matters. I also urge the GRA and the Government to have a mechanism in place through which the government can automatically know how much VAT the government pays to the security firm and other labor-intensive contractors, and others, as we have excellent information that most of these firms that tender for government contracts are actually stealing VAT as they steal the PAYE, NIS and do not comply with corporate laws.

In addition to the above, and as I have done many times in the past, I am appealing to the Minister of Labor, the Private Sector and all the concerned members of the Cabinet that if you desire to increase the minimum wage, which I think is necessary for our workers, then you need to cater to those who have tendered for labor and were paid the old rate. In other words, you need to ensure that whatever the rate you raise by, the contractor supplying security services, cleaning services, etc must have an automatic increase from the Government as well. Some years ago, when the minimum wage was dramatically increased in the middle of the year, some security firms managed to manipulate the NIS, GRA, and VAT in a criminal manner and even attempted to underpay their guards. For those of us who obeyed the laws, particularly the undersigned, we worked for 3 months and after realizing that the government did not listen to our appeal, we gave notice and respectfully withdrew our services. In the process, we lost millions of dollars which we are still paying for. My humble appeal is that the Government must be conscious of this fact. This is only fair to those of us who fully comply with NIS and GRA.

So, with all of this in mind, respected Editor, I reiterate, by just naming and shaming without imprisonment, blacklisting, and/or seizure of properties, the reality is that it would all just be ‘talk,’ ‘harum-scarum’ so to say, or of no serious consequence.

Sincerely,
Roshan Khan Snr