~Unions responded to government’s proposal on cuts~
PHILIPSBURG:--- Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion said the government is working on ways to be more transparent regarding the companies that have received payroll support thus far this will enable workers to see if their bosses got the stimulus and did not pay them. The Minister called on companies that were paid to disburse the funds immediately by paying their workers. Employers are obligated to pay their employees 100% of their salaries even if they only received 80% from the SSRP.
The Minister also called on those companies to pay their employees so that money could circulate on the island.
Several companies have not paid their workers for April and May while some companies are refusing to pay their workers the 100% salaries while demanding that employees work 6 hours a day with no lunch hours. Some workers are told flat out they will only get what is given to them by government and payroll support.
Minister Irion explained on Wednesday that 479 businesses received payroll support and the date for this support has been extended to June 5th while payments will be made by next week.
So far, 790 persons applied for unemployment support but this process is taking more time as the government has to cross-reference to see if any of the applicants are part of the payroll support program that is being handled by USZV. Of the 790 applicants, 137 have been approved while the deadline for application has been extended to June 22nd.
Minister Irion called on employers to provide their employees with the necessary documents so that they could complete their application for unemployment support. He said some of the feedback he has gotten thus far shows that employers are not providing their workers with the required documentation.
Asked what the government has in place for companies that provide services for the government and are not qualified for stimulus support. Minister Irion said ever since he took office he is busy cleaning up the backlog on the companies that are still owed by the government.
