Social Security Minister pledges to address hurdles in operating SSF effectively

Kathmandu: Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security, Sharat Singh Bhandari, has said the Ministry has formed a committee to resolve the complications with the implementation of the social security plan, and the matter is under study.

Addressing a programme marking the Seventh Social Security Day here today, he said the Ministry is working to resolve the policy and legal topics impeding updating the Fund’s plans. Minister Bhandari stressed that the Social Security Fund has been bearing economic responsibility under various social security-related policies related to the lifelong welfare of workers.

Stating that consultations are being held with the Ministry of Finance for linking the temporary and contract employees in the public service to the Fund, he said the private sector should not dither in linking up its employees with the Fund, pointing to these temporary and contract employees in the government service.

Health and Population Minister Pradip Paudel said that the Fund’s programmes are aimed at covering the economic and social risks of all workers by drawing them into the Fund. He suggested affiliating all workers in the formal sector in the Fund in the coming days.

Minister Paudel appreciated the incorporation of workers in the formal, informal, self-employment and foreign employment sectors into the Social Security Plan and stressed giving all the facilities to the workers as recommended by the International Labour Organization.

The Health Minister thought that the health support programmes that are scattered in the social security and health sector should be integrated and executed through the Health Insurance Board. National Planning Commission (NPC) Vice Chairman Shivaraj Adhikari viewed that the contribution-based social security policy has helped cover the risks that might come in the life of workers.

Stating that the Fund has been carrying out exemplary works for the benefit of the workers within a short period, he suggested integrating other social security-related programmes as well. President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI) Chandra Prasad Dhakal urged the government to encourage the private sector as it is providing around 85 percent of the employment in the country.

ILO’s Country Director for Nepal, Numan Özcan said the UN agencies will continue to assist in the effective implementation of the social security plan in Nepal. President of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI), Rajesh Kumar Agrawal stressed the need to mobilize the funds deposited in the Social Security Fund and other sectors in productive areas.

Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) president Kamalesh Kumar Agrawal said the payment of 17 percent of the amount deposited in the Fund for various claims proved that social security is necessary for the security of workers. President of the Joint Trade Union Coordination Centre (JTUCC), Yogendra Kumar Kunwar called for removing the policy confusion for increasing the participation of workers in social security.

President of the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA), Badri KC, stressed the need to conduct a campaign to incorporate all the workers who are in foreign employment into the Fund.

The government launched the contribution-based social security plan on November 27, 2018, and a meeting of the Council of Ministers on November 19, 2018, decided to celebrate the 11th of Mangsir every year as Social Security Day.

The Constitution of Nepal has made provisions for the right to social security for every citizen. The government has, through the Social Security Fund, already moved ahead with the process of bringing all citizens under the Social Security umbrella for the enforcement of the same right. Around 1.8 million workers employed in the formal, informal, foreign and self-employment sectors have been enlisted in the Fund so far.

One million 797 thousand and 640 workers, including 543 thousand 491 workers in the formal sector, 1 million 253 thousand and 615 people in foreign employment, 307 workers in the informal sector and 227 people in the self-employment sector have been registered in the Fund as of Monday (November 25, 2024), Social Security Fund’s executive director Kabiraj Adhikari said.

The Fund has been operating medical treatment, health and maternity, accident and incapacity, dependent family members and old-age security schemes for the workers.

The Fund has so far reimbursed Rs 11.62 billion for claims under various social security policies to 180 thousand and 922 workers. The Fund has deposits of Rs 68.68 billion.

RSS