COVID-19 update and press conference – March. 3, 2021. (PMO) – VIEW HERE…..
The National Insurance Board (NIB) has submitted a Board Paper to the Ministry of Finance, seeking approval to become a statutory board.
Chairman of the National Insurance Board, Leslie Haynes, made the disclosure during a COVID-19 update and press conference entitled COVID-19: Your Workplace and You from Ilaro Court, this evening.
Pointing out that the National Insurance Board is a unique board, the Chairman noted that it is the only board of a department in central government which sets policy, however, staff at the National Insurance Office report directly to the Ministry of Finance.
The Chairman noted that the operations of the National Insurance Office during the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted to the NIB, that “in order to better maintain or improve efficiencies at the National Insurance, we should transition to a statutory body, rather than remain a department of government”.
He went on to explain the rationale for the requested transition to a statutory board. “If the Ministry of Finance and Cabinet approve the transition to a statutory body, the staff at the NIS, those who accept the positions, will now fall under the Employment Rights Act.
“Of course, they will be employed on the same terms and conditions as before and there are certain different changes, but what that means is that the Board at the National Insurance would then have a little bit more control, a firmer hand with respect to the National Insurance staff working in the areas in which they are best suited,” Mr. Haynes said.
Emphasising the advantage of having control over the hiring and firing of staff, the Chairman noted that in the retrenchment period back in 2018, the department lost key trained staff, and had to apply to the People Resourcing and Compliance Directorate for staff, which took time.
“As a statutory body, we will be able to place staff in positions quickly. We will be able to take staff and put them in positions to which they are best suited, and importantly, as well, more importantly, we would not lose staff who are suitable for the position which they are presently in to other ministries, so that we will become a more comprehensive unit, a more efficient unit,” the Chairman explained as the major benefit of the transition.
Mr. Haynes noted that even with the request to transition from a board in central government to a statutory board, it would still be a reflection of the social partnership in Barbados between Government and the private sector, given the important role the National Insurance Scheme plays in society.
He said it would still have representatives from the Barbados Employers Confederation, the Barbados Workers Union, the National Union of Public Workers, the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association and three members of the board appointed by the Prime Minister.
SHEENA FORDE-CRAIGG – BGIS
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
NIS Chairman Provides Unemployment Claims Update
To date, the National Insurance Office has received over 50,000 unemployment claims since March 2020.
This disclosure came from Chairman of the National Insurance Board, Leslie Haynes, during a COVID-19 Update and Press Conference entitled COVID-19: Your Workplace and You from Ilaro Court, this evening.
Mr. Haynes also provided additional information regarding the National Insurance Scheme (NIS) disbursements with respect to unemployment claims.
“We at the National Insurance have paid in unemployment benefits to date, over BDS$155 million in claims. We have had approximately over 50,000 unemployment claims. Of course, the individual unemployment claims are about 38,000 persons, of which about regrettably 4,000 of those did not qualify, so that there were about 34,000 persons who have benefited from the Unemployment Fund,” the Chairman stated.
Stressing that the National Insurance Department has an important role to play in Social Security matters in Barbados, the Chairman pointed out that the department was not without its issues, mainly with regard to processing claims in a timely manner.
He stated that since 2018, the department had been working to reduce the number of outstanding claims and to pay them in a timely manner.
“We were making headway, then lo and behold, COVID. I think it’s fair to say, today that with the dedication of the Acting Director and the staff at the NIS that the outstanding claims today are just about the same amount as were outstanding before COVID…. Of course, claims have increased, so that tells me that the National Insurance Department has been working hard [and] diligently to ensure that claims are satisfied,” Mr. Haynes declared.
The Chairman revealed that in an effort to process and pay unemployment claims in a timely manner during the last year, a solution was developed called Advance Payment Solution, where an applicant who was due two weeks’ payment received four weeks.
“So that by doing so, you don’t have to come back so quickly, … and having waited for your two weeks’ claim, we gave you four. I think today … when last I inquired of the Director, we are about $9 million out, having advanced those payments, but we are certain that in due course that sum will be repaid,” the Chairman explained.
Mr. Haynes noted that “it has not been easy” at the National Insurance Department, and complimented the staff for their efforts in helping it to withstand the “battering” caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
SHEENA FORDE-CRAIGG – BGIS
