“Shocking” is how some described Friday’s news that employers owe an estimated 200 million Antillean guilders in outstanding premiums to Social Health Insurances SZV. Certain of these debts go all the way back to the year 2000 and can’t be collected anymore, but it’s still a huge amount for such a small country.
One already knew that local fiscal compliance was poor, but if correct this is downright ridiculous. What makes it even worse is that in many cases the workers’ part of the premiums were no doubt withheld, but kept instead of transferred to the collective coverage fund.
The latter is nothing short of stealing, plain and simple. It is also highly irresponsible behaviour by entrepreneurs who ought to know better.
Then again, they are not the only culprits. For years Government failed to make pension and social security payments on behalf of its personnel, resulting in similar arrears to SZV and General Pension Fund APS that are only now being cleared.
However, that bad example that politicians and public administrators set in the past is definitely not a valid excuse for the current private sector. Two wrongs don’t make a right and the people involved should by now be fully aware that such behaviour is totally unacceptable.
SZV’s Glen Carty said they are not out to put businesses out of operation, but rather work with them. That’s all well and good, but strong action is required if they subsequently fail to honour outstanding payment arrangements.
It must be kept in mind that those concerned also create an unfair advantage over their competitors who play it by the book as good corporate citizens. Ensuring a level playing field is essential to any free market economy.
