The National Social Security Authority (NSSA) says it will enforce the National Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) policy launched in December last year.
The policy requires employers to implement health and safety standards at the workplace.
Speaking to <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/business/article/200003516/nssa-pushes-for-national-health-and-safety-standards">NewsDay</a> on Friday, NSSA acting general manager Charles Shava said current legislation leaves other workers without that protection, hence the OSH Bill which is before Parliament will ensure that all workers are protected. He said:
<blockquote>
We are also going to require the market to do it. We already have the National OSH policy. 
This policy was launched by the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare (Paul Mavima) last year in December to be specific.
This policy is a national framework for managing health and safety in the workplace. 
So, within that policy, it was a requirement already before our launch. We are doing this to comply with that policy.
There is already a policy that requires every employer to have arrangements for managing health and safety in their workplaces so it’s already there.
It’s just that we are going to be putting more emphasis to make sure that policy is implemented at all workplaces in the country.
Also, we have a problem with our legislation at the moment. It allows for some leakages for certain employers to get away with some of these requirements but our new OSH Bill which is before Parliament now is going to make sure that every workplace and every worker in the country is covered.
But, at the moment, the current legislation leaves other workers without that protection.
</blockquote>

Pindula News

NSSA Pushes For National Health And Safety Standards At The Workplace

The National Social Security Authority (NSSA) will this week start the refurbishment of the St Tropez apartments in Eastlea, Harare.
Located along Samora Machel Avenue within 5km of the central business district (CBD), the St Tropez apartments comprise 38 by two-bedroomed and 22 by one-bedroomed block of flats.
The renovation of St Tropez will be done by Platinum Investment Managers (Pvt) Limited, who are the project managers.
Speaking to The Sunday Mail, NSSA chief executive, Arthur Manase, said they intend to make St Tropez a viable investment asset for the benefit of pensioners and beneficiaries. He said:
<blockquote>
We want to revamp St Tropez, bring it to its former glory, and as an investment making money for the NSSA fund. In that way, it will benefit our pensioners and beneficiaries.
We have engaged experienced investment managers, and their role is to assemble a team that will reconstruct, renovate and revamp this whole estate to make sure that it is upmarket and is a viable investment for NSSA.
NSSA will take part in these activities to revamp its idle assets. This year we want to make sure that idle assets are revived for the benefit of growing our fund. We want our pensioners to derive value from these investments.
</blockquote>
Platinum Investment Managers managing director, Prosper Mapika said:
<blockquote>
What we expect to see in the nine months to come is a much-changed St Tropez. ‘But beyond the aesthetics, it should be an asset that will perform and give returns to the membership of NSSA.
So, the optimisation of cost in the project vis-à-vis the expected returns is going to be our focus as investment managers.
</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/nssa-rehabilitates-st-tropez-property">The Sunday Mail</a></h4>

NSSA Plans To Renovate St Tropez Property

Several medical doctors from Matabeleland North Province face prosecution for fraudulently issuing claims to undeserving National Social Security Authority (NSSA) beneficiaries, prejudicing the authority of millions of dollars.
The medical practitioners were allegedly working in cahoots with NSSA employees to steal money from the organisation and several NSSA employees implicated in the scam have been suspended.
This was revealed by the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Paul Mavima while addressing NSSA pensioners’ representatives during an engagement forum held in Gweru on Friday. Mavima said:
<blockquote>There are disturbing cases of fraudsters who are attempting to submit illegitimate and undeserving claims when they have not contributed to the fund.
There are doctors in Matabeleland North Province working in cahoots with NSSA employees who were nabbed for presenting illegitimate claims for undeserving clients.
They were syphoning money from NSSA and they are facing prosecution. NSSA employees have been suspended pending disciplinary action.</blockquote>
NSSA has as a result started the process of renewal of life certificates for pensioners in a bid to eradicate the corruption that has become endemic within the organisation. Added Mavima:
<blockquote>The current exercise to renew life certificates for pensioners is meant to ensure that benefits are paid out to deserving cases only.
I implore you, as pensioner representatives, to encourage your colleagues to renew their certificates by 30 June 2021 so that they can continue to receive their pay-outs.</blockquote>
Mavima said the NSSA board, upon the advice of an actuary, this month approved a 100 per cent increase in benefits payments across the board, subject to a minimum retirement pension of US$25, up from US$12 paid at the prevailing auction rate. He said:
<blockquote>This was done bearing in mind the need to maintain the long-term sustainability of the fund.
It is projected that the minimum retirement pension will increase to US$30 in July, US$40 in October, and closing the year 2021 at US$60 paid at the prevailing auction rate.
In stepping up efforts to cushion our pensioners, NSSA is paying out groceries’ allowances.
To date orphans, children and the invalid have received these allowances in addition to their monthly disbursements for March.
Surviving spouses will receive their grocery allowances in May and retirees will get theirs in June.</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/doctors-cartels-loot-nssa/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Chronicle</a></h4>

Medical Doctors' Cartels Loot NSSA

The majority of Zimbabwean workers are not covered by social security as most people are employed in the unregulated informal sector, according to the National Social Security Authority (NSSA).
NSSA acting chief social security officer Shepherd Muperi said:
<blockquote>The current coverage of only four branches of social security means that Zimbabwe still has to cover the remaining five branches in order to attain the ILO minimum standards.
Moreover, the existence of a huge informal sector, which is not covered by social security, means that the country is still very far away from attaining these minimum standards.
… Given that social security schemes are important tools for fighting poverty, informal sector workers, who constitute 94,5 per cent of the country’s labour force (Zimstat, 2015), are in dire need of social security cover.</blockquote>
In Zimbabwe, the National Social Security Authority (NSSA), constituted and established in terms of the NSSA Act of 1989, Chapter 17: 04, is obliged to provide social security.
<h4>Related:</h4>
<ul>
<li class="entry-title">
<h4><a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2019/02/05/govt-appoints-new-nssa-board/">Govt Appoints New NSSA Board</a></h4>
</li>
</ul>
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/94pc-of-workers-go-without-social-security">The Sunday Mail</a></h4>

Over 90% Zim Workers Without Social Security

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<div class="post-content entry-content">
The National Social Security Authority (NSSA) will from next month start giving out US$800 for funeral enhancement for pensioners with an upward pension payments review set for the second quarter of this year.
In a bid to turnaround the fortunes of NSSA, the board embarked on a number of structural changes to get a return on investment. The processes that the board embarked on for the past 20 months seem to be yielding positive results as plans are underway to review upwards pension payments.
Briefing journalists in Harare, NSSA board chairman Mr Robin Vela said his organisation is looking forward to paying an enhanced and sustainable pension with a number of packages available which will deliver value to pensioners.
More: <a href="http://www.zbc.co.zw/2017/03/29/joy-for-pensioners-as-benefits-increase/">ZBC News</a></div>
</div>

NSSA increases benefits for pensioners

Government has directed the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) to increase monthly pension payouts to $100 instead of the current $60 in the first quarter of this year and gradually raise the figure to $150 by the end of the first half.
Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Prisca Mupfumira confirmed the development to The Herald. Following the directive by Government, NSSA has been reviewing its current investment portfolio and will be taking a decision to either dispose of non-performing assets or consolidate its interests in appropriate vehicles.
More: <a href="http://www.herald.co.zw/monthly-pension-payouts-increased/">Herald</a>

Govt directs NSSA to increase monthly pension payouts

Reliable sources at the <a href="http://www.pindula.co.zw/National_Social_Security_Authority">National Social Security Authority (NSSA)</a> told The Herald hundreds of employees would be retrenched next month.
The paper is in possession of a letter from NSSA general manager, Mrs Elizabeth Chitiga, dated December 20 to the employees, where the organisation urges employees to opt for voluntary retrenchment which comes with benefits instead of waiting to be fired. The letter states that the retrenchment offer is open from December 20, 2016 to January 13 2017 with a non-negotiable package of three months’ notice pay, two weeks (pay) for every year served, two weeks (pay) for every 10 years served as gratuity, two months’ severance pay and one month relocation allowance.
NSSA has failed to give its employees their annual bonuses for the first time in many years. Efforts by The Herald to get a comment from NSSA were fruitless yesterday. However, NSSA board chairman Mr Robin Vela is on record confirming to The Herald on December 2 that the authority was trimming its workforce.
More: <a href="http://www.herald.co.zw/nssa-to-retrench-worker-morale-hits-rock-bottom/">Herald</a>

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