NIS tightens on issuance of Compliance certificates

Oct 04, 2017 News

The National Insurance Scheme (NIS) is cracking down on the issuance of Compliance Certificates.

NIS’ General Manager, Holly Greaves

The documents which in essence say that individuals and companies are complying with employees’ remittances, among other things, are critical for entities tendering for State contracts.
Overtime, there have been reports of companies and individuals receiving compliances when they do not fulfilled the requirements.
Among the guilty are several security companies which seem to have a problem not paying their workers’ dues but yet receiving the certificates which say otherwise.
The issue of compliance was raised Monday when NIS celebrated its 48th anniversary.
According to newly confirmed General Manager, Holly Greaves, in 2017 the organization introduced an automated Compliance Certificate.
Ms Greaves disclosed to staffers and other stakeholders, the Compliance Section can now capture details relating to applications for compliance certificates, perform checks then update these requests right within the system.
She said that the system now allows for tracking of the certificates with reports being produced.
“The new system allows for proper audits of compliance activities as it relates to the distribution of these certificates as it provides detailed reports relating to all applications,” she said.
NIS, she also disclosed, benefited from continuous upgrades of the organization’s core information technology framework and software.
These efforts have and will continue to positively impact the organization’s overall efficiency. “Worthy of mention is that connectivity to the Lethem Local Office was completed in May 2017. With the expansion of the Web-Application, another small but powerful addition to the online application is the pension calculator, which based on contributions, calculates the projected minimum and maximum pensions. This useful little tool is able to accept input from users testing different scenarios.”
The General Manager also noted that NIS benefited from collaborative initiatives with the Guyana Forestry Commission, the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and data sharing with Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).
“In addition, the impending findings of the 9th Actuarial Review that is presently being conducted and the implementation of the three-year Strategic Plan in 2018 will undoubtedly assist in shaping the organization’s future.
Cognizant of our responsibility, focus in 2018 would be on changing culture, the level of human resource readiness across the institution, infrastructure, operating processes and enabling technology. This will enable us to achieve greater efficiency in operations.”
She challenged staffers to embrace change with the right attitude and commitment.
“We must also be cognizant of our responsibility to provide the best service to our beneficiaries, while operating at the highest possible levels of efficiency and effectiveness.
NIS is facing long term problems with little returns on its investments and a growing deficit.
An expanding informal workforce which is not paying any dues to NIS as well as poor enforcement has not been helping the situation much.
NIS is the social insurance net established 48 years ago.