By Isaac Zulu
The Kapiri Mposhi magistrate court has fined 37 employers in the area for abrogating the National Pensions Scheme Authority (NAPSA) Act.
The employers operating various businesses were appearing in court for offences ranging from failure to register their employees with NAPSA and failure to produce documents.
Other employers were indicted on charges of failure to remit statutory contributions for their employees to NAPSA.
The offences are contrary to Section 51(1) of the NAPSA Act number 40 of 1996 of the Laws of Zambia.
All the businesses pleaded guilty to the respective offences before magistrates Mwila Malupandede and Jammy Mukumbi; respectively.
In the statements of facts, NAPSA Public Prosecutor, Conard Siluya indicated that NAPSA had visited the premises of the employers before court between March 22 and September 11, 2023 around Kapiri Mposhi town to check their compliance to the NAPSA Act.
During the inspection it was discovered that despite being fully operational and registered as employers and eligible to register employees, the businesses had failed to deduct and contribute predetermined deductions from employees to NAPSA while others could not produce documents for assessment as demanded by NAPSA.
Siluya stated that the action by the employers resulted in depriving employees of their social security rights and affected investment opportunities for NAPSA overtime.
In passing, judgment magistrate Malupande urged employers to comply with NAPSA and business regulations to enable employees enjoy their social security rights.
The employers were ordered to pay between K 200 and K 300 each in fines or in default face a two-week simple imprisonment.
Meanwhile, seven more employers operating various businesses that include service providers, trade, restaurants and private schools are appearing in court on similar offences.
