The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has indicated that it takes no pleasure in dragging defaulting employers to court.

This comes after the Trust took legal action against 7,951 defaulting employers.

Speaking on JoyNews' The Law on Sunday, Acting Public Affairs Manager of SSNIT, Charles Akwei Garshong, stated that employers are given 14 days in the ensuing month and also provided with the opportunity to negotiate for a preferable means of settling their arrears.

"Employers have 14 days grace period in the ensuing month to pay up the 13.5 percent. However, some of these employers hold on to the contributions."

Interacting with host, Samson Lardy Anyenini, Mr. Garshong noted that, should the alternatives be exhausted, defaulting employers are put before the court.

According to him, SSNIT has no other alternative as it has an obligation to employees registered with the Trust.

"We have instances where, 3 to 5 months, employers haven't paid. So when it happens that way, we try to engage them and when that fails, because SSNIT is under obligation to pay benefits to the workers who have registered, there are no other options than to take legal actions."

"Employers have the right to come and negotiate beneficial terms of settlement. So all those options are made available to them. It (legal redress) is not a preferred mode we want to use but if we don't collect the money, it will be difficult for us to pay benefits to workers when they retire," he said.

Also on the show, Legal Services Manager of SSNIT, Emmanuel Sackey added that it is acceptable for employers to pay their employees' contributions in installments.

"Anytime you are unable to pay for some obvious reasons, come to the branch office where you usually make payment, speak to the Manager and tell him or her that you want to enter into negotiation and pay in installment. It is acceptable."

Meanwhile, SSNIT has noted that it will in the next two months, embark on a mass prosecution exercise.

Mr. Akwei Garshong said employers who fail to negotiate or pay up, will be dragged to court.