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By Marilyn King
The National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT) last Friday 10th March 2023 organised a day workshop for the media as a means of engaging them as a part of it informal sector engagement.
The Press Workshop which took place at the Galliness Paradise Hotel, Bo town, has it theme: “Moving into the informal sector, the role of the Press”.
NASSIT informal sector comprises of bike riders, hair dressers, and market women among others.
In his address to participants, NASSIT Director General, Mohamed Fuaad Daboh, thanked media practitioners for their continuous stand with them since inceptions of the Trust as they are charged with the responsibility to manage the social protection of the nation.
The DG went on to say, the media practitioners and content providers generally have been NASSIT long standing partners. The DG expressed joy of their continuous engagement with the media from formal to informal settings emphasising that they are very pleased to slightly use a different but very educative approach this year by conducting a workshop as a means of their engagement.
“This is an opportunity to share ideas on how NASSIT can effectively engage the informal sector as we learn from one another,” the DG said.
He quoted Articles 22 and 25 of the ‘Universal Declaration of Human Rights’ enacted by the United Nations, which stated that access to Social Security is a basic right, adding 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, he emphasised, clearly tells them that Social Security is a human right issue.
The NASSIT Boss pointed out that, social protection is a key element of a 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.
Sierra Leone Minister of Labor and Social Security, Alpha Osman Timbo, in his keynote address, stated that the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) Government is yet again championing a Scheme that will provide Social Protection for majority of the working population of Sierra Leone.
The Labor Minister continued to say the Social Protection is a human rights issue, and should be enjoyed without discrimination, and it provides basic level of benefits to enable individuals and families to acquire at least essential health care, basic shelter, housing, water and sanitation, food and basic education.
He pointed out that the New Direction SLPP Government led by 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 of the belief 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,” the Labor Minister said.
Minister Timbo pointed out that, President Bio-led administration through his Ministry and in collaboration with several stakeholders, including their 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,” he said.
The Labor minister added that the said Bill has gone through several the crucibles, pointed out that when enacted, the Bill will be the Mother of All Legislations in the country because it will definitely fill all the gaps left behind by existing legislations.
Media practitioners described the engagement as a true story of social safety and love for the nation. They described NASSIT as a true partner and promised to continue the collaboration for the benefit of Sierra Leoneans.
