Contribution Rates
Contribution Rates
NATIONAL INSURANCE AND SOCIAL SECURITY ACT
Contribution Rates and Levies Payable
Since 1st January 2003, the National Insurance contribution rate was increased by 1% per year for four years. This rate will be shared equally between the employer and the employee. As a result, this shift will bring about an increase in contributions payable by Government permanent and temporary employees, Private Sector employees, Apprentices, self-employed persons, Voluntary contributors and staff of diplomatic missions or consulates of Barbados.
The Prime Minister in his Economic and Financial Statement in January 2006 established a Catastrophe Fund to which workers are required to contribute 0.1% of insurable earnings.
Please note that the new rates took effect from 1st April 2006 for monthly paid employees and 3rd April 2006 for weekly paid employees.
The Prime Minister in her Budgetary Proposal and Financial Statement in June 2018 introduced a Health Service Contribution at a rate of 2.5%, to which employers are required to contribute 1.5% of insurable earnings and 1.0% by employees and self-employed persons. The new rates took effect from 1st October 2018. Changes to the unemployment and training levy came into effect from 1st January 2019.
The new rates of National Insurance Contributions and other collections of the National Insurance Office will be as follows:
Government Permanent Employees – “P”
| Funds and Levies | Employee % | Employer % | Total% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 9.80 | 11.20 | 21.00 |
| National Insurance | 6.20 | 6.20 | 12.40 |
| Non-Contributory | 2.00 | 2.00 | 4.00 |
| Employment Injury | 0.00 | 0.75 | 0.75 |
| Training Levy | 0.50 | 0.75 | 1.25 |
| Catastrophe Fund | 0.10 | 0.00 | 0.10 |
| Health Service Contribution | 1.00 | 1.50 | 2.50 |
Government Temporary Employees – “T”
| Funds and Levies | Employee % | Employer % | Total% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 11.10 | 12.75 | 23.85 |
| National Insurance | 6.75 | 6.75 | 13.50 |
| Non-Contributory | 2.00 | 2.00 | 4.00 |
| Unemployment | 0.75 | 1.00 | 1.75 |
| Employment Injury | 0.00 | 0.75 | 0.75 |
| Training Levy | 0.50 | 0.75 | 1.25 |
| Catastrophe Fund | 0.10 | 0.00 | 0.10 |
| Health Service Contribution | 1.00 | 1.50 | 2.50 |
Government Over Pensionable Age or Under 16 – “I”
| Funds and Levies | Employee % | Employer % | Total% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 0.60 | 1.50 | 2.10 |
| Employment Injury | 0.00 | 0.75 | 0.75 |
| Training Levy | 0.50 | 0.75 | 1.25 |
| Catastrophe Fund | 0.10 | 0.00 | 0.10 |
Private Sector Employees and State-owned Enterprises / Statutory Corporations – “R”
| Funds and Levies | Employee % | Employer % | Total% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 11.10 | 12.75 | 23.85 |
| National Insurance | 6.75 | 6.75 | 13.50 |
| Non-Contributory | 2.00 | 2.00 | 4.00 |
| Unemployment | 0.75 | 1.00 | 1.75 |
| Employment Injury | 0.00 | 0.75 | 0.75 |
| Severance | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Training Levy | 0.50 | 0.75 | 1.25 |
| Catastrophe Fund | 0.10 | 0.00 | 0.10 |
| Health Service Contribution | 1.00 | 1.50 | 2.50 |
Apprentices – “A”
| Funds and Levies | Employee % | Employer % | Total% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 11.10 | 12.75 | 23.85 |
| National Insurance | 6.75 | 6.75 | 13.50 |
| Non-Contributory | 2.00 | 2.00 | 4.00 |
| Unemployment | 0.75 | 1.00 | 1.75 |
| Employment Injury | 0.00 | 0.75 | 0.75 |
| Severance | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Training Levy | 0.50 | 0.75 | 1.25 |
| Catastrophe Fund | 0.10 | 0.00 | 0.10 |
| Health Service Contribution | 1.00 | 1.50 | 2.50 |
Private Sector Employees Pensionable Age or Under 16 – “E”
| Funds and Levies | Employee % | Employer % | Total% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 0.60 | 1.50 | 2.10 |
| Employment Injury | 0.00 | 0.75 | 0.75 |
| Training Levy | 0.50 | 0.75 | 1.25 |
| Catastrophe Fund | 0.10 | 0.00 | 0.10 |
Self-employed – “S”
| Funds and Levies | 2006 JAN to MAR | April 2006 to Sep. 2018 | Oct. 2018 to Present |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 16.00 | 16.10 | 17.10 |
| National Insurance | 13.50 | 13.50 | 13.50 |
| Non-Contributory | 2.00 | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| Training Levy | 0.50 | 0.50 | 0.50 |
| Catastrophe Fund | 0.00 | 0.10 | 0.10 |
| Health Service Contribution | 0.00 | 0.10 | 1.00 |
Voluntary Contributors – “Z”
| Funds and Levies | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 to Present |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 8.30 | 9.30 | 10.30 |
| National Insurance | 6.30 | 7.30 | 8.30 |
| Non-Contributory | 2.00 | 2.00 | 2.00 |
Foreign Embassies – “B”
| Funds and Levies | Employee % | Employer % | Total% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 11.10 | 12.75 | 23.85 |
| National Insurance | 6.75 | 6.75 | 13.50 |
| Non-Contributory | 2.00 | 2.00 | 4.00 |
| Unemployment | 0.75 | 1.00 | 1.75 |
| Employment Injury | 0.00 | 0.75 | 0.75 |
| Severance | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Training Levy | 0.50 | 0.75 | 1.25 |
| Catastrophe Fund | 0.10 | 0.00 | 0.10 |
| Health Service Contribution | 1.00 | 1.50 | 2.50 |
Foreign Service Help – “V”
| Funds and Levies | Employee % | Employer % | Total% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 7.93 | 7.93 | 15.86 |
| National Insurance | 5.93 | 5.93 | 11.86 |
| Catastrophe Fund | 2.00 | 2.00 | 4.00 |
National Insurance (NIS) Insurable Earnings Ceilings
| Year(s) | Weekly Ceiling ($) | Monthly Ceiling ($) |
|---|---|---|
| 1967 to 1973 | 50.00 | N/A |
| 1974 to 1977 | 100.00 | N/A |
| 1978 to 1981 | 230.00 | 1000.00 |
| Jan. 1982 to May 1984 | 506.00 | 2200.00 |
| June 1984 to Dec. 1986 | 598.00 | 2600.00 |
| Jan. 1987 to Sept. 1991 | 600.00 | 2600.00 |
| Oct. 1991 to Dec. 2004 | 715.00 | 3000.00 |
| 2005 | 736.00 | 3190.00 |
| 2006 | 759.00 | 3290.00 |
| 2007 | 782.00 | 3390.00 |
| 2008 | 819.00 | 3550.00 |
| 2009 | 858.00 | 3720.00 |
| 2010 | 900.00 | 3900.00 |
| 2011 | 944.00 | 4090.00 |
| 2012 | 965.00 | 4180.00 |
| 2013 | 985.00 | 4270.00 |
| 2014 | 1060.00 | 4360.00 |
| 2015 | 1060.00 | 4360.00 |
| 2016 | 1060.00 | 4360.00 |
| 2017 | 1073.00 | 4650.00 |
| 2018 | 1073.00 | 4650.00 |
| 2019 | 1112.00 | 4820.00 |
| 2020 | 1126.00 | 4880.00 |
| 2021 | 1126.00 | 4880.00 |
| EMPLOYED PERSONS SCHEDULE OF CONTRIBUTIONS PAYABLE ON INSURABLE EARNINGS | |
|---|---|
| SCHEDULE OF CONTRIBUTIONS PAYABLE ON INSURABLE EARNINGS | |
| Insurable Earnings ($) | |
| 1.00 | |
| 2.00 | |
| 3.00 | |
| 4.00 | |
| 5.00 | |
| 6.00 | |
| 7.00 | |
| 8.00 | |
| 9.00 | |
| 10.00 | |
| 11.00 | |
| 12.00 | |
| 13.00 | |
| 14.00 | |
| 15.00 | |
| 16.00 | |
| 17.00 | |
| 18.00 | |
| 19.00 | |
| 20.00 | |
| 21.00 | |
| 22.00 | |
| 23.00 | |
| 24.00 | |
| 25.00 | |
| 26.00 | |
| 27.00 | |
| 28.00 | |
| 29.00 | |
| 30.00 | |
| 31.00 | |
| 32.00 | |
| 33.00 | |
| 34.00 | |
| 35.00 | |
| 36.00 | |
| 37.00 | |
| 38.00 | |
| 39.00 | |
| 40.00 | |
| 41.00 | |
| 42.00 | |
| 43.00 | |
| 44.00 | |
| 45.00 | |
| 46.00 | |
| 47.00 | |
| 48.00 | |
| 49.00 | |
| 50.00 | |
| 51.00 | |
| 52.00 | |
| 53.00 | |
| 54.00 | |
| 55.00 | |
| 56.00 | |
| 57.00 | |
| 58.00 | |
| 59.00 | |
| 60.00 | |
| 61.00 | |
| 62.00 | |
| 63.00 | |
| 64.00 | |
| 65.00 | |
| 66.00 | |
| 67.00 | |
| 68.00 | |
| 69.00 | |
| 70.00 | |
| 71.00 | |
| 72.00 | |
| 73.00 | |
| 74.00 | |
| 75.00 | |
| 76.00 | |
| 77.00 | |
| 78.00 | |
| 79.00 | |
| 80.00 | |
| 81.00 | |
| 82.00 | |
| 83.00 | |
| 84.00 | |
| 85.00 | |
| 86.00 | |
| 87.00 | |
| 88.00 | |
| 89.00 | |
| 90.00 | |
| 91.00 | |
| 92.00 | |
| 93.00 | |
| 94.00 | |
| 95.00 | |
| 96.00 | |
| 97.00 | |
| 98.00 | |
| 99.00 | |
| 100.00 | |
| 200.00 | |
| 300.00 | |
| 400.00 | |
| 500.00 | |
| 600.00 | |
| 700.00 | |
| 715.00 | |
| 736.00 | |
| 759.00 | |
| 800.00 | |
| 900.00 | |
| 1,000.00 | |
| 1,112.00 | |
| 2,000.00 | |
| 2,500.00 | |
| 3,000.00 | |
| 3,100.00 | |
| 3,190.00 | |
| 3,290.00 | |
| 3,550.00 | |
| 3,720.00 | |
| 3,900.00 | |
| 4,090.00 | |
| 4,180.00 | |
| 4,270.00 | |
| 4,360.00 | |
| 4,650.00 | |
| 4,820.00 |