Companies and self-employed persons whose contributions are in arrears up to March 2008 will have 60 per cent of the penalties written off under the programme.

So far, the trust says it has collected $120 million of outstanding sums from 3,000 employers.

All contributors with outstanding payments can qualify for the amnesty, but the write-off on the penalty "will apply only to the amount that is being paid".

business@gleanerjm.com