Latest update January 20th, 2025 4:00 AM
NIS nearer to have contributions, payments online; registrations easier
Facing problems over its records, the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) is moving to introduce a modern system that would not only have them available online, but for payments and transfers to be made to banks.
NIS Chairman, Dr. Surendra Persaud
The social security entity in an advertisement Sunday in Kaieteur News, said it wanted Expressions of Interest (EoI) for a software development.
“The software will be designed and developed to incorporate varying aspects of the Scheme’s operations and will also consist of a supporting web application,” NIS explained.
The consultant will have to show evidence that they have completed at least three projects that are similar to the proposed project and at least three years experience in the field of software development.
As an indicator, the proposals submitted must contain a conceptual design proposal outlining how the software will be developed and operated.
The deadline for submission of the proposals will be on Monday, November 27, 2017 at 9 am.
NIS is a state-owned social security company that extends social insurance coverage on a compulsory basis to all persons between the ages of 16) and 60 who are engaged in insurable employment.
The major operations of the NIS revolve around the registration of employers, employed persons, self-employed persons, the processing of contributions and the processing of benefits.
“These aspects of the scheme’s operations are managed by the National Insurance Management System and are accessible by all of the fourteen local offices located throughout the country,” NIS explained.
The goal of the ambitious project, NIS said, is to develop an updated management system that will be able to manage the three major aspects of the scheme operations while utilizing modern information technology trends.
Among some of the major components and features that NIS wants included in the improvements should be the registration of employed persons, self-employed persons and employers, the introduction of pre-registration through a web application using scanned documents,and capturing photograph and printing of updated NIS cards.
Among other things, NIS is planning to have contributors’ cards include a photograph of the contributor and other key information with other bio-metric information including fingerprints being captured.
With regards to contributions, NIS wants to facilitate the submission of contribution schedules from employers through the NIS website, make it possible for online payments and historical records available on its website.
The software will have to also allow for the generation of long-term and short-term benefit payments based on defined requirements and calculations, and facilitate the payments to bank accounts and physical printing of vouchers.
NIS wants the software to allow options for report generation and accommodate approximately 500 concurrent users online at any one time.
NIS, last month, celebrated its 48th anniversary but warned that there are several challenges, including new income sources.
Chairman of the Board, Dr. Surendra Persaud, in disclosing that the NIS has not had an investment policy, said that the current system allows the breeding of corruption and incompetence.
Apologising for “beating up” on management, he stressed that it is “management’s responsibility” to manage the organization.
”I must say however that the behemoth that is the NIS has begun to change course,” he said during the celebrations.
With regards to his plans for NIS, Dr. Persaud targeted smart phones and technology to reduce an unacceptable amount of resources to collect money and to disburse benefits.
”In the near future this will be completely replaced by electronic transfers. I expect that very soon Guyana will have a digital financial window, a single digital space where all payments to the Government and its semi-autonomous bodies will be made.”
”And similarly all disbursements will be made electronically.”
He challenged management to complete at least five things before the 49th anniversary arrives.
These include 95 percent of pensioners receiving their monies directly into the bank; using digital technology to prove that they are alive; all payments printed on checks that can actually be deposited into a bank and that the same amount of claims is processed within 30 days.
The chairman, who has been there since 2015, is also targeting 95 percent of payments to the NIS to occur electronically by this time next year.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
Mental illness is real and a serious public health concern
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- Mental illness is a reality we often acknowledge in passing but seldom confront with the... more
OAS Secretary General Election and renewed OAS Consensus
Antiguan Barbudan Ambassador to the United States, Sir Ronald Sanders By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- The upcoming election... more
Weekend Cartoon
