KATHMANDU: The 8th Social Security Day is being observed today under the slogan, “Social Security: Access to universal health services, pensionable society, and protection of citizens’ lives with increased productivity.”
The day commemorates the launch of Nepal’s contribution-based social security program eight years ago, guided by the principle of “Social security and employment as the basis of good labor relations.”
A special ceremony is being organized at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers in Singha Durbar, with Prime Minister Sushila Karki as the chief guest. The government had formally announced the contribution-based social security scheme on November 27, 2018 to uphold the fundamental right to social security as enshrined in the Constitution of Nepal.
The scheme is implemented under the leadership of the Social Security Fund, which was established to ensure workers’ right to social security through contribution-based programs.
Executive Director Kabiraj Adhikari stated that the fund’s programs aim to reduce economic and social risks, include all workers under the concept of universal social security, and uphold the constitutional framework of contribution-based benefits.
The fund has expanded its scope to cover workers in the formal sector, foreign employment, as well as informal and self-employed sectors. As of Wednesday, the fund has brought 2.65 million citizens under the umbrella of contribution-based social security, including 649,511 in the formal sector, 1,996,579 in foreign employment, 799 in the informal sector, and 582 in the self-employed sector.
The fund operates a range of schemes for drug treatment, health and maternity, accident disability, dependent family security, and old-age security. Executive Director Adhikari noted that workers and their families have been benefiting from these programs through various facilities and concessions.
To date, the fund has collected Rs 95.68 billion in contributions, and 253,143 workers have received claims totaling Rs 17.72 billion. In addition to health benefits, contributors enjoy other benefits, including interest on savings, monthly pensions after a specified period, home loans, educational loans, and other welfare facilities.
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