SSF launches social security scheme for migrant Nepalis

 Scheme for govt contract workers soon: PM Prachanda

 

Kathmandu, Mar. 22

The Social Security Fund (SSF) has launched contribution-based social security scheme for Nepali migrant workers employed in foreign land or self-employed Nepalis in various countries.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda launched the scheme amidst a programme organised by the SSF in the Capital on Wednesday. The SSF has already been implementing social security scheme for the workers employed in the private organisations in the formal sector in the country and has expanded the scope of the service to migrant workers following the approval of ‘Procedure for the Operation of Contribution-based Social Security Scheme for the Workers Employed or Self-employed Abroad-2023’. 

According to the procedure, Nepali citizens who are employed abroad or are self-employed in foreign countries can participate in the facility by contributing at least 21.33 per cent (minimum Rs. 2002 per month) of the minimum basic salary set by the government of Nepal. They can contribute three times of the amount of their basic salary at the maximum.

The procedure has introduced various schemes such as Accident and Disability Protection Scheme, Dependent Family Protection Scheme and Old Age Protection Scheme for contributors who contribute regularly.

Nepalis going to work abroad with a new work permit or those who want to get a work permit renewal while staying abroad, can join the social security scheme through the online system managed by the Department of Foreign Employment. In addition to this, it has been arranged that the people who are working abroad with a work permit can be listed through the fund's website.

Call centers and social networks (Viber, WhatsApp, etc.) of the fund have been arranged to be open 24 hours a day to facilitate registration and collection of contributions, informed Kapil Mani Gyawali, Executive Director of the SSF.

The SSF expressed hope that since an agreement has been signed for the cooperation between the Fund and Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA), it will further facilitate in joining the facility as the NRNA is active in more than 80 countries. Efforts are also being made to collect contribution amount from the Nepali banks and remittance offices located abroad, through the contributors' bank accounts in Nepal.

Launching the new scheme, Prime Minister Prachanda said that any kind of distress, cheating or dillydallying in case of youth going abroad for employment would no longer be acceptable.

The Prime Minister also wanted to encourage the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security (MoLESS) in searching for new opportunities and destinations for foreign employment, and to make agreements with the countries that have not yet signed labour pacts.

He also said that he wanted the ministry to advance the work of making existing agreements relevant to modern time, to increase the rights, interests, and facilities of Nepalis abroad, and to increase the benefits from it.

Meanwhile, the MoLESS is making preparations to send the youth to foreign employment only after skill training. "For this purpose, I would like to express my commitment to move forward as soon as possible with the preparations made by the Ministry to restructure the training provider agency to provide training for a period of less than six months," said Prime Minister Prachanda.

According to him, the government is making policy arrangement to invest the fund's money in physical infrastructure development, entrepreneurship and other productive sectors.

PM Prachanda expressed concerns about the inability to include contract workers in the government service in the social security scheme and pledged to make necessary arrangements in this regard.

"I am confident that it will contribute greatly to the achievement of the goal of bringing 60 per cent of the population under the scope of social security in one way or another by the end of the current 15^th periodic plan," he said.

Meanwhile, Rabina Thapa, Executive President of the NRNA, said that the launch of the social security scheme aimed at foreign workers and self-employed people abroad was a great achievement for the association.

She urged to give special consideration to the women workers who want to participate in this scheme. "I would like to remind the situation that women workers are paid less than men in some cases at home or abroad and I would like to draw the attention of the government to take this situation into consideration while including it in this plan," said Thapa.

As per NRNA's expectation, more than 4 million Nepali migrant workers and their families will be benefitted from the newly launched scheme.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 23 March 2023.