Q: If a business is closing down and I
am about to go on maternity leave do they still have to pay me as well as I
have two weeks’ vacation pending do they have to pay me for that as well?
A: You have to receive your salary/wages
as long as they can afford it. This all depends on how the business is closing
down and then the priority of debt payments. There are a few terms involved in
this process; i.e. insolvency (compulsory or voluntary), receivership, liquidation,
bankruptcy and administration. So it depends on the category which the company
falls under when closing down.
Winding-up
Salaries have secondary priority to the government
debts (taxes, NIS, etc.). According to the Companies Act 1995, as amended-s.435(1)(b):
all wages or salary (whether or not
earned wholly or in part by way of commission or for time or piece
work) of any employee, not being a director, in respect of services
rendered to the company during four months next before the relevant date;
Bankruptcy & Insolvency
If the company is bankrupt, wages have 4th
place priority according to The Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, 2006 - s.127(d):
excluding
severance, claims for wages, salaries, commissions or compensation of any
employee for services rendered during the six months immediately preceding the bankruptcy,
together with disbursements properly incurred by a traveling salesman in and
about the bankrupt’s business, during the same period, so as not to exceed such
amount as may be prescribed by Order in each case;
The law is not explicit as to whether unused vacation
and maternity leave are included in debt payments, but it's a unique matter that I would love to put to the test.
Is there a law in T&T that protects employees to an excessive extent? - i.e. Something I should be specially aware of / cautious (like the irremovability law in Venezuela that makes it almost impossible to fire an employee, even if you have fair reason.)
ReplyDeleteThere is no version of Venezuela's Organic Labour Law in T&T.
DeleteIt's not impossible to fire; instead, it just forces employers to making sure that they don't unfairly dismiss employees. You just have to ensure that you have the correct legal advice... you've come to right place. E-mail me
If someone gets knock down on a pedestrian crossing, that has hazard lights and the crossing is situated next to a school,what redress does he/she have? Especially when a motorist stopped for him/her to cross but another vehicle disregarded this and tried to pass the stopped vehicle.
ReplyDeleteThis is a civil matter relating to negligence.
DeleteMy company has lost 80% of its income and I am unable to pay severance benefits. I am a Medical Technician. How can I close down the company and would I have to pay the severances and can I practice as an individual?
ReplyDeleteApply to legal affairs to have it struck off.
Delete