The National Insurance Services (NIS), the sole provider of sustainable social security in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, was established on January 5, 1987. The core mandate of the NIS is to provide sustainable social protection to workers and their dependents through an income protection arrangement. This is demonstrated through the provision of benefits such as sickness, maternity, invalidity, employment injury, funeral and survivors. These benefits are financed mainly through contributions paid by members. The Institution provides coverage to the following groups of persons within the age group 16 to National Pensionable Age (NPA) years: Employees Self-employed Contributors Voluntary Contributors (local and abroad) Under the NIS Act, all workers in St. Vincent and the Grenadines are mandated to make contributions to the NIS. Currently, the total rate of contribution is 10% of insurable earnings. Of this total rate, the employee is required to pay 4.5% and this is matched by 5.5% by the employer.