COVID -19
Business Resources
The BCCEC recognizes that the health and safety of our members, community, and partners are our highest priority during this unprecedented time. The BCCEC team has been actively following the Coronavirus (COVID-19) developments, and we are following guidance and activity daily, to best identify how to serve you.
Because the current public health emergency policies continue to evolve. we want to provide you with a resource page that enables you to focus on the health of your business operations and employees. This section was created to provide you with information from our national health organizations and government agency leaders that may be helpful resources to you.
The public is reminded to practice the following COVID-19 prevention guidelines:
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Wear a face mask when you leave your home.
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Practice social distancing, at least 6ft from others.
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Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and if soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based sanitizer with at least 70% alcohol.
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Cover your cough or sneeze in your inner elbow or with a tissue.
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Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces
THINKING OF BECOMING A MEMBER
OF THE BCCEC?
Having Chamber resources at your fingertips is valuable, especially during these times. We want our Bahamian businesses to have access to important information, upcoming webinars, and have the ability to share information that is relevant to them. Being a member of the BCCEC offers great benefits for your business.
Becoming a member of the BCCEC allows local businesses access to these tools and more. You can read more on chamber benefits here >>> https://www.thebahamaschamber.com/members-center
Join Today!
CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE TOOLKIT: BCCEC RECOMMENDATIONS FOR BUSINESSES AND WORKERS
The BCCEC has compiled a helpful list of coronavirus recommendations from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) for businesses and workers across the country. We continue to encourage Bahamian businesses to follow guidelines from relevant Government Ministries and to source reliable information from agencies such as the World Health Organization the CDC.
We encourage you to share the below recommendations within your networks, to employees and communication channels including social media, and websites.
COVID – 19 SAFETY AND HEALTH:
BCCEC RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WORKPLACE PREVENTATIVE MEASURES
WORKPLACE PREVENTION MEASURES are important to abide by during these times. The PDF below has helpful information about managing your safety and health in the workplace.
BUSINESS CONTINUITY PLAN TEMPLATES
While some companies have developed contingency plans, most have not. Because of the rapidly evolving changes within business practices with COVID-19, the lack of preparedness jeopardizes the delivery of critical goods that depend on complex supply chain systems.
Creating and maintaining a Business Continuity Plan helps ensure that your business has the resources and information needed to deal with an emergency. A well designed plan will help you minimize the risk that an emergency poses to your employees, clients and suppliers, the continuity of your business operations and your bottom line.
To plan your business continuity exercise and mitigate the potential effects of an emergency, you can utilize the templates listed below in helping you make plans according to your companies needs:
*You can use these templates as part of your business activities, however you are responsible for the content of the documents you create using these templates. These templates only serve as a guideline to help you prepare plans for your business.
NATIONAL INSURANCE BOARD (NIB) FORMS
NIB COVID-19 UPDATES >>> https://www.nib-bahamas.com/NIB-BAHAMAS-COVID-19-Alerts
All NIB Offices are operational. However, all face to face services have been suspended, with the exception of cheque payments and persons collecting cheques.
NIB has moved to electronic services only to ensure staff and customer safety. All critical services such as benefits payments and claims processing continue.
However, benefits applications/claims forms must be downloaded from our website - https://www.nib-bahamas.com/_m1722/Library and completed and then submitted electronically to customerservice@nib-bahamas.com.
The PDF and audio file both provide additional information in regard to NIB's remote operations:
Please see the PDF for NIB's COVID-19 Policy:
For ease of reference, please see below forms for the National Insurance Board (NIB) Employer’s Certificate Med-4 form and Termination of Service/Lay-Off Certificate:
Employers can fill in the forms and employees can drop off to NIB’s drop box at one of their locations or email the form to customerservice@nib-bahamas.com.
The Employer's Certificate - Med 4 form, is required to support claims for the benefits should employees become sick or are injured. Employers are only required to complete the Med 4 form and a copy kept for your records.
The Termination of Service/Lay-Off Certificate should be completed by Employers with the intention of allowing employees to come back to work.
Bahamas Employment Act
An Act to establish minimum standard hours of working and vacation with pay for employees; to provide for the grant of maternity and family leave; to provide for redundancy payments to employees; to make provisions relating to notices to terminate contracts of employment; to make provisions relating to summary dismissal and unfair dismissal; to make provisions in respect of the employment of children and young persons; to make provisions in respect of the wages of employees; to make provisions relating to fingerprinting and lie detector tests; and for connected purposes.
Bahamas Department of Labour
To foster good industrial relations between employer and employee while promoting a high level of employment.
Website:
https://www.facebook.com/DOL242