Proposal to transfer NHT refunds to NIS unworkable - Morgan

Social commentator Dr Henley Morgan has described as unworkable, the proposal to remit the National Housing Trust (NHT) refunds of low income earners to their National Insurance Scheme (NIS) accounts.

The president of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce, Warren McDonald, made the suggestion yesterday saying the policy shift would better help low income earners when they retire.

But Morgan, the founder of the group Agency for Inner-city Renewal, says while the principle of the idea is "well intended", it would be difficult to implement such a system.

Morgan also says the NHT Act would not facilitate a transfer of funds and that such a proposal would also affect the liquidity of the NHT.

Morgan further asserts that implementing the proposed system would cause accounting problems.

He said based on his experience, it would be difficult to get low income earners to forego their NHT refunds for a longer term pension benefit.

According to Morgan, many of these persons struggle with cash flow problems and rely on money they can get immediately to help them survive.

He says more affordable pension schemes for low income earners may be better alternatives to the transfer proposal.