Delinquent employers threatening workers NIS benefits

The Auditor General has found that hundreds of people could be denied State benefits as their employers have failed to pay over their National Insurance Scheme (NIS) contributions.

The delinquency is highlighted in the Auditor General Department's annual report following audits into the accounts of several ministries, departments and agencies.

NIS is a compulsory contributory-funded social security scheme which offers financial protection to workers and their families.

It provides benefits such as retirement, invalidity grants, widows’ grants and employment injury benefits.

But the Auditor General says NIS data shows that as at March 31, 2012, 1,518 employers failed to make payments to the NIS.

The employers, which include both private and government entities, owe a total of $1.35 billion.

This is an increase over the previous year when the figure was $1.23 billion.

Meanwhile, the Auditor General says NIS statistics show that 1 thousand and 92 employers did not submit annual returns for the periods 1990-2011.

Like our new Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/gleanerjamaica

Follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/JamaicaGleaner

radio@gleanerjm.com