By: Hafsatu Z Bangura
The National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT) is putting modalities in place to make the lives of retired workers from the informal sector better.
On Friday 10th March, 2023, in Bo City, NASSIT management schooled journalists drawn from across Sierra Leone on why it is imperative for the informal sector workers to be covered by NASSIT.
Several presenters educated journalists on the specific reasons why the informal sector workers will benefit greatly by joining the Scheme. Journalists learnt about the activities and mandates of the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT) at the one day workshop on the theme: Moving into the Informal Sector and the Role of the Press.
The event took place at the Galliness Paradise Hotel in Bo.
Speaking at the event the Director General of National Social Security Trust, Fuaad Daboh, thanked President Bio, their development partners and the media for being with them all through their great journey of providing social protection for the nation.
He added that Journalists are content providers that have been their partners for many years.
“I am happy that each year we have found a way to thoroughly engage the media through formal and informal settings and we are happy that this year, we are using a slightly different but very educative approach by conducting a workshop purposely for the press, where we all have another opportunity to share ideas on how NASSIT can effectively engage the informal sector as we learn from one another”, he said .
He went on to state that, Articles 22 and 25 of the ‘Universal Declaration of Human Rights’ enacted by the United Nations, states that access to social security is a basic right. Added that The “Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention 102 that was adopted by the International Labor Organization (ILO) in 1952 also prescribes minimum standards for benefits in the important areas of social security. This clearly tells us that Social security is a human right issue.
Mr Fuaad pointed out that, social protection is a key element of our national strategy to promote human capital development, political stability and inclusive growth, because it providing adequate protection in a situation of heightened uncertainty in the labour market, and it helps combating poverty and reducing social exclusion in order to prevent sections of the population from being trapped in a cycle of poverty and underdevelopment.
The Minister of Labor and social security Alpha Osman Timbo in his submission stated that the SLPP Government is yet again championing a Scheme that will provide Social Protection for the Majority of the Working Population in this Country this according to him is because Social Protection is a Human Rights issue and should be enjoyed without Discrimination and It provides a basic level of benefits to enable individuals and families to acquire at least essential health care, basic shelter and housing, water and sanitation, food and basic education.
He pointed out that the New Direction Government that is led by His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio is not shy in implementing its ambitious development agenda covering all sectors of the country as contained in its 2018 Manifesto and Medium-Term National Development Plan, that is why as a Government, we are believe that establishing a Social Insurance Scheme for the greater majority of the population is a step in the right direction. It is so, because the laws of our land, as enshrined in Chapter 2, Sub-Sections 8 & 9 of the Constitution of Sierra Leone Act No. 6 of 1991 makes it a right to all citizens.
Minister Timbo further pointed out that, the President Bio-led administration through his Ministry and in collaboration with several stakeholders, including our major Development Partners is not only pushing for an all-encompassing Social Protection Act but also establishing a working Social Insurance Scheme for Informal Sector Workers.
As a nation, we are signatories to different international statutes that will guarantee social protection for our citizens and to that, I want to state here clearly that this government is and will be Committed to upholding every law and agreement, that is why the government, with full support from all stakeholders, both local and international, has reviewed all existing social protection policies; established the gaps in them and developed a Bill and this Bill has gone through several crucibles and I want to state here that when enacted, it will be the Mother of All Legislations in this country because it will definitely fill all the gaps left behind by existing legislations.
On his part, SLAJ Vice President, Sahr Gbanga reiterated the importance of bringing on board the informal sector to be part of NASSIT.
He pleaded with his colleagues to do their best to popularize the proposed NASSIT informal Sector Scheme.
This scheme accordingly to all the presenters will contain incentives that informal sector players, employers and employees will find ad very beneficial and cannot refuse.
It is hoped that before the end of April this year this scheme would come into play.
