Denu, Nov. 14, GNA - A number of companies and institutions owe the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) a total of 246 billion cedis, being workers' contributions they deducted, but which they failed to remit to the SSNIT by September, this year. Mr. Richard Ampadu, Head of Operations, SSNIT, stated this at a day's seminar for both public and private employers from Keta, Akatsi, Ketu, North and South Tongu Districts, all under the Denu branch of SSNIT at Denu on Friday.

He said such defaults posed major cumulative problems on the SSNIT's financial management operations, as an insurance pool for contributors.

The seminar on the theme: "Towards Improved Service Delivery In Partnership With The Employer", sought to sensitise employers on their roles as stakeholders in the management of the trust. Mr. Ampadu appealed to employers not to renege on their responsibilities as direct contact-point between the worker and SSNIT' in terms of registration of the workers under the fund and mobilisation of contributions.

He cautioned that defaulting employers, who persistently failed to pay the 17 and half percent monthly workers' deductions, after the ongoing publication of list of defaulting companies in the media, would face legal action.

Mr. Ampadu 0hene, Accra East Area Manager, said it was obligatory for every employer to register all employees including casual workers and also to declare the accurate labour force, accurate salaries, submit monthly and relevant books on salaries and wages for inspection on demand.

Mr. Joy Abbey, Denu Branch Manager, said private institutions and companies under his branch, such as hotels, schools and communication centres were flouting the regulation on registration of employees for social security contributions.

He said there was about 415 million cedis of social security contributions in areas under his branch, saying only 59 percent of expected contributions had so far been collected as at October this year, with areas growing at 15 percent per month.

He said wrong information provided either by the worker or the employer had been the cause of delay in processing the various benefits under the fund.

Miss Eva Amegashie, Deputy Public Affairs Director, appealed to employers to help the fund in its image building efforts to provide excellent and reliable services to beneficiaries.