KAMPALA, (UG):- The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) has unveiled the Livelihoods Support Project, a transformative initiative aimed at recruiting informal sector workers, who are currently outside Uganda’s social security coverage.
The project was launched by NSSF Managing Director, Patrick Ayota during a function today, Friday, 4th October in Otuke District.
Speaking at the launch, Ayota emphasized that the project is part of the Fund’s long-term goal to onboard at least 50% of Uganda’s working population into the formal savings system by 2035. “The grassroots informal sector, particularly small-scale agriculture, represents a significant part of the workforce, yet they rarely save formally. Through the Livelihoods Support Project, we are looking to engage these 4 million workers, enhance their capacity to save, and introduce them to formal savings schemes,” Ayota said.
The project, currently being piloted in four districts Otuke, Kayunga, Sheema, and Mitooma has already registered over 10,780 new members who have started saving with NSSF.
Ayota further noted that the Fund expects to collect comprehensive data over the next year to assess the project’s success, which will guide the policy framework for a national rollout.
The recently appointed NSSF Board Chairperson Dr David Ogong, representing the Minister of Gender, Labour, and Social Development applauded the Fund for devising innovative ways of recruiting the informal sector workers.
“The recent changes in the law were premised on the fact every working Ugandan has a right to social security and social protection. The Fund is no longer shackled by the law as was the case not so long ago. I therefore encourage Ugandans to embrace this opportunity to ensure they are protected from the uncertainties of life. NSSF is the best national entity to guarantee this protection,” the minister’s speech read in part.
He added that Uganda is not any different when it comes to the challenges of onboarding the informal sector into the social security net. “The statistics are not pleasant. Globally, according to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the informal economy workers make up a significant portion of about 55% of the global population who do not enjoy access to social protection at all, while many others are only partially protected,” he said.
“In Uganda, according to the UBOS, the informal sector workers – those who are employed, but without any social security cover in law or in practice, are over 80% of Uganda’s workforce. Today therefore marks an important milestone in the NSSF’s journey to extend social security coverage to millions of underserved segments of the country’s workforce, mainly in the informal sector,” Dr Ogong added.
The NSSF Livelihoods project targets existing groups referred to as the “Livelihood Community” to accelerate their access to new skills and knowledge, productive assets to add value to their goods and services, markets for their goods and services, and higher income-earning opportunities.
About NSSF
The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) is Uganda’s largest social security provider, working to secure the financial futures of workers across the country. With this new initiative, the Fund seeks to bring even more Ugandans into the social security net, ensuring financial security for workers in the informal economy.
The National Social Security Fund Uganda is a multi-trillion Fund mandated by the Government through the NSSF Act (Cap 230), to provide social security services to all eligible employees in Uganda.
The Fund manages assets worth over UGX 22.1 trillion, invested in Fixed Income, Equities, and Real Estate assets within the East Africa region with the Minister of Gender, Labour & Social Development, and the Minister of Finance, Planning & Economic Development acting responsible for its policy oversight and implementation.
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