Contribution Rates & Earnings Ceilings
Contribution Rates & Earnings Ceilings
NATIONAL INSURANCE AND SOCIAL SECURITY ACT
Contribution Rates and Earnings Ceilings
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 Proposals 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 on 1st January 2019. Additional changes to these levies came into effect from 1st January 2021.
The Minister in the Ministry of Finance, Economic Affairs and Investment, in his presentation of the Budgetary Proposals and Financial Statement in March 2025, proposed that the Catastrophe Fund be expanded, repurposed and be renamed the Resilience and Regeneration Fund.
For employees, the contribution rate to this fund increases from 0.1% to 0.25%, and for employers, a contribution rate of 0.25% has been introduced. The rates applicable to the Resilience and Regeneration Fund are calculated on gross earnings**.
Please note that these changes came into effect from April 1, 2025, for both monthly and weekly paid employees.
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 | 9.70 | 10.95 | 20.65 |
| 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 | 0.50 | 1.00 |
| Health Service Contribution | 1.00 | 1.50 | 2.50 |
| Funds and Levies | Employee % | Employer % | Total% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 0.25 | 0.25 | 0.50 |
| Resilience & Regeneration | 0.25 | 0.25 | 0.50 |
Government Temporary Employees – “T”
| Funds and Levies | Employee % | Employer % | Total% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 11.00 | 12.25 | 23.25 |
| National Insurance | 6.75 | 6.75 | 13.50 |
| Non-Contributory | 2.00 | 2.00 | 4.00 |
| Unemployment | 0.75 | 0.75 | 1.50 |
| Employment Injury | 0.00 | 0.75 | 0.75 |
| Training Levy | 0.50 | 0.50 | 1.00 |
| Health Service Contribution | 1.00 | 1.50 | 2.50 |
| Funds and Levies | Employee % | Employer % | Total% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 0.25 | 0.25 | 0.50 |
| Resilience & Regeneration | 0.25 | 0.25 | 0.50 |
Government Over Pensionable Age or Under 16 – “I”
| Funds and Levies | Employee % | Employer % | Total% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 0.50 | 1.25 | 1.75 |
| Employment Injury | 0.00 | 0.75 | 0.75 |
| Training Levy | 0.50 | 0.50 | 1.00 |
| Funds and Levies | Employee % | Employer % | Total% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 0.25 | 0.25 | 0.50 |
| Resilience & Regeneration | 0.25 | 0.25 | 0.50 |
State-owned Enterprises / Statutory Corporation
| Funds and Levies | Employee % | Employer % | Total% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 11.00 | 12.75 | 23.75 |
| National Insurance | 6.75 | 6.75 | 13.50 |
| Non-Contributory | 2.00 | 2.00 | 4.00 |
| Unemployment | 0.75 | 0.75 | 1.50 |
| Employment Injury | 0.00 | 0.75 | 0.75 |
| Severance | 0.00 | 0.50 | 0.50 |
| Training Levy | 0.50 | 0.50 | 1.00 |
| Health Service Contribution | 1.00 | 1.50 | 2.50 |
| Funds and Levies | Employee % | Employer % | Total% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 0.25 | 0.25 | 0.50 |
| Resilience & Regeneration | 0.25 | 0.25 | 0.50 |
Private Sector Employees – “R”
| Funds and Levies | Employee % | Employer % | Total% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 11.00 | 12.75 | 23.75 |
| National Insurance | 6.75 | 6.75 | 13.50 |
| Non-Contributory | 2.00 | 2.00 | 4.00 |
| Unemployment | 0.75 | 0.75 | 1.50 |
| Employment Injury | 0.00 | 0.75 | 0.75 |
| Severance | 0.00 | 0.50 | 0.50 |
| Training Levy | 0.50 | 0.50 | 1.00 |
| Health Service Contribution | 1.00 | 1.50 | 2.50 |
| Funds and Levies | Employee % | Employer % | Total% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 0.25 | 0.25 | 0.50 |
| Resilience & Regeneration | 0.25 | 0.25 | 0.50 |
Apprentices – “A”
| Funds and Levies | Employee % | Employer % | Total% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 11.00 | 12.25 | 23.25 |
| National Insurance | 6.75 | 6.75 | 13.50 |
| Non-Contributory | 2.00 | 2.00 | 4.00 |
| Unemployment | 0.75 | 0.75 | 1.50 |
| Employment Injury | 0.00 | 0.75 | 0.75 |
| Training Levy | 0.50 | 0.50 | 1.00 |
| Health Service Contribution | 1.00 | 1.50 | 2.50 |
| Funds and Levies | Employee % | Employer % | Total% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 0.25 | 0.25 | 0.50 |
| Resilience & Regeneration | 0.25 | 0.25 | 0.50 |
Private Sector Employees Pensionable Age or Under 16 – “E” Private
| Funds and Levies | Employee % | Employer % | Total% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 0.50 | 1.25 | 1.75 |
| Employment Injury | 0.00 | 0.75 | 0.75 |
| Training Levy | 0.50 | 0.50 | 1.00 |
| Funds and Levies | Employee % | Employer % | Total% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 0.25 | 0.25 | 0.50 |
| Resilience & Regeneration | 0.25 | 0.25 | 0.50 |
Self-employed – “S”
| Funds and Levies | 2018 to Present |
|---|---|
| Total | 17.00 |
| National Insurance | 13.50 |
| Non-Contributory | 2.00 |
| Training Levy | 0.50 |
| Health Service Contribution | 1.00 |
| Funds and Levies | Total% |
|---|---|
| Total | 0.25 |
| Resilience & Regeneration | 0.25 |
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 | 11.00 | 12.75 | 23.75 |
| National Insurance | 6.75 | 6.75 | 13.50 |
| Non-Contributory | 2.00 | 2.00 | 4.00 |
| Unemployment | 0.75 | 0.75 | 1.50 |
| Employment Injury | 0.00 | 0.75 | 0.75 |
| Severance | 0.00 | 0.50 | 0.50 |
| Training Levy | 0.50 | 0.50 | 1.00 |
| Health Service Contribution | 1.00 | 1.50 | 2.50 |
| Funds and Levies | Employee % | Employer % | Total% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 0.25 | 0.25 | 0.50 |
| Resilience & Regeneration | 0.25 | 0.25 | 0.50 |
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 |
| Non-Contributory | 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 to 2016 | 1060.00 | 4360.00 |
| 2017 to 2018 | 1073.00 | 4650.00 |
| 2019 | 1112.00 | 4820.00 |
| 2020 to 2022 | 1126.00 | 4880.00 |
| 2023 | 1182.00 | 5120.00 |
| 2024 | 1201.00 | 5200.00 |
| 2025 | 1219.00 | 5280.00 |
