Government to Review NIS, PATH

JAMAICA:  The Government will be undertaking a comprehensive review of the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) Act.
Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, in delivering the Throne Speech at Gordon House on April 14, said the NIS review will address outdated practices and provisions, benefit rates and contributions.
“It will also close loopholes and improve coverage and compliance,” he informed. Drafting instructions are to be sent to the Chief Parliamentary Counsel by the end of the fourth quarter of this fiscal year.
The review is part of measures to modernise the operations of the scheme, which was established in 1966.
The Governor-General informed that the Ministry of Labour and Social Security will be reducing pension processing times, and will introduce more efficient methods of payment to pensioners, including direct deposit of funds into the bank accounts of new pensioners this year.
A public education programme will be launched to foster greater compliance in the payment of NIS benefits.
The Governor-General also informed that the benefits under the Programme for Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH) will be reviewed this fiscal year to ensure greater alignment with the social needs of the people.
He said the Public Assistance Division of the Labour Ministry will be restructured to more effectively deliver its range of programmes such as emergency assistance, compassionate grants, social housing, and transportation and post-secondary grants to PATH beneficiaries and Step-to-Work participants.