Employees should ensure they are covered by NIS

Dear Editor,

Reference is made to a letter dated March 19 under the caption ‘A more aggressive NIS with incorruptible managers is needed’ (GC).

The National Insurance Scheme as a social security entity is committed to providing social protection to contributors and relatives of contributors who qualify for same.

However, in order for the Organisation to be effective in our efforts to fulfil our mandate, there are many other actors who must also play their roles.  Such persons would include the employees themselves, employers, the court and the society at large.

The National Insurance Scheme usually publishes the names of defaulting employers and would finally resort to the court if employers still refuse. Schemes for payment of outstanding arrears can be agreed to with errant employers. Additionally, NIS has a system whereby a payment plan is worked out between NIS and the employer.

Relative to the issue of the security guards who worked with employers who did not contribute for them, the National Insurance Scheme would be more than happy if the writer can furnish us with all the relevant information, ie names of the employers, names of employees, etc.

I am also again appealing to employees to ensure that they are aware that their contributions are remitted to NIS. Remember, employees also have an obligation, and that is to ensure that they are properly covered by NIS.

The National Insurance Scheme is once again calling on members of the public to provide the Scheme with information regarding employers who are operating businesses that are not covered by NIS.

Information can be forwarded to the nearest NIS Office.

Yours faithfully,
Dianne Lewis Baxter
Publicity and Public Relations Officer