MIDWEEK REPORTER
MASVINGO-Independent consultants who help employers in meeting their National Social Security Authority have been accused of assisting their clients to cheat by under declaring number of workers.
The revelations were made by NSSA Masvingo provincial compliance supervisor, Agness Pretty Muzembe during a one day stakeholder engagement at Junior High School on Tuesday.
Muzembe strongly warned independent consultants that if they continue with the practice the long arm of the law will one day catch up with them and they will be blacklisted.
“We are aware of cases of consultants who advise their clients to under declare the number of workers to NSSA so that they pay less in contributions, yes, you may succeed today but the long arm of the law will very soon catch up with you. Currently we have one consultant in Chiredzi whom we have blacklisted and be warned of the consequences.
“For example employers with 100 workers are told to only declare 50 or less, some even go to the extent opening new files after discovering that the current one is in the red, that behavior must stop, stop it!” thundered Muzembe to the more than 150 delegates attending the engagement.
Muzembe acknowledged the hardships that business is facing in the tanking economy, but she said non compliance is more expensive than compliance in the long run.
“Liars have short legs and when a tragedy happens, the whole truth will come out and you will be left exposed.
“Just imagine if it were you not covered on social security and you are involved in an accident or you retire only to learn that you were not registered.
“I also urge employees to be responsible for their welfare by visiting our self service portal and find out their status, yes its risky as you may be fired, but it’s better that you know your NSSA status than to be in the dark,” added Muzembe.
She also said consultants have a tendency of urging their clients to keep separate files for statutory organisations like NSSA, Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, National Employment Council, Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund, etc.
“We are aware that there are consultants who advise their clients to have separate files for each statutory body, one for NSSA inspectors, one for ZIMDEF, one for ZIMRA zvichienda zvakadero, that’s cheating, its unethical, please stop it,” she said.
Muzembe appealed to employers to allow their staff to talk to NSSA inspectors for information and not to intimidate them by gagging them and threatening them with dismissal.
“When our inspectors visit premises, employees have a tendency of professing ignorance and only tell you that the boss is not there and they know nothing. Only the employer has all the required information, please allow our inspectors to do their job, even in your absence they should get the required information,” she said.
