“There are employers who want their employees cut their working day in half… they expect them to give them a whole day work for half salary, that is not good,” Hon Maduro-Caines said during the Fourth Sitting of The Second Session of The Fourth HoA at the Save the Seed Energy Centre in Duff's Bottom, Tortola on September 29, 2020.

“They are taking this COVID-19 pandemic and making slaves of our people, that’s what they are doing,” she continued.

According to the third-term legislator, with the lockdowns during key business hours eased, people are buying food, buying clothes and going about their daily routines with most of the stores opening all day.

Hon Alvera Maudro-Caines also alleged that some employees have even started taking a cut of social security money paid over by the Government for employees.

Full hours with half salary – Hon Maduro-Caines

“But yet you still have your employees working half-day and expect them to put in 8 hours on 4 hours and get 4 hours of pay.”

The legislator further pointed out that some employees have even started taking a cut of Social Security money paid over by the Government for employees.

“How much more evilness can we see coming from some of these employers concerning these persons who are already now struggling?”

Hon Maduro-Caines urged such businesses to stop the practice and instead look into the interest of the people of the Virgin Islands in this time of need.