1,400 employers delinquent in paying NIS

The Auditor General is reporting that a significant number of employers are still to hand over the national insurance (NIS) contributions for their employees.



In his 2007 report the auditor general disclosed that 1,400 employers from eight parishes owed outstanding NIS contributions amounting to $279.2 million.



In addition the report noted that 1,161 employers were also delinquent in filing annual returns for the years 1993 to 2006.



The Social Security Ministry has advised that approximately 300 employers had been taken to court and that payment arrangements had been made with 200 employers.



The audit also revealed persistent weaknesses in the clearing of advances made to the Post and Telecommunications Department to pay pension benefits.



The reported balance as at March 31 was $1.27 billion.



An audit of lodgements made by the Clarendon and St Thomas Parish offices, also revealed differences totalling $93,680 between amounts on the lodgement slips and the related credits made on bank statements.