News that the Ministry of Education is considering debt collectors to recover millions of dollars in Novopay overpayments shows that after three years the problems aren't fixed.
That’s the view of the Labour Party, who have launched an attack on the Government following rumours that Education bosses are considering calling in debt collectors to chase Kiwi teachers, who between them, owe more than $2.5 million.
As reported by the New Zealand Herald, “The Education Ministry has confirmed more than 2250 staff have not paid any money back since the Australian-owned Talent2 payroll company mucked up education staff pay packets in 2012.”
“Novopay has been a fiasco from day one,” claims Chris Hipkins, Education spokesperson, Labour.
“It never should've been given the go ahead and three years later school staff and teachers continue to suffer the consequences of that botched decision.”
According to Hipkins, Minister Steven Joyce was sent in to fix the problems, yet many teachers and school staff still can't get accurate information about what they've been paid, how much they owe or are owed, and how much leave they have accrued.
“Nobody I've spoken to thinks people who owe money should keep it forever, but in many cases who owes who and how much is hotly contested,” Hipkins adds.
“Some of the people overpaid in one pay were underpaid in another. The whole thing has been a shambles.
"In other cases people were completely unaware they had been overpaid and spent the money in good faith. They never should've been put in that position.
“Despite all the smooth talk from Steven Joyce, schools still suffer under Novopay on a weekly basis. When it comes to fixing the mess, Joyce gets an 'N' for not achieved.”