Social Security/Benefits

For Employers: Social Security/Benefits in Uganda, Social Security

What is social security?

This is the protection which society provides for its members, through a series of public measures, against the economic and social distress that otherwise would be caused by the stoppage or substantial reduction of earnings resulting from sickness, maternity, employment injury, unemployment, invalidity, old age and death; the provision of medical care; and the provision of subsidies for families with children (ILO, 1984).

How is social security regulated in Uganda?

The social security and protection sector is regulated by government through the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD). The Ministry is responsible for policy functions, including tabling bills in Parliament for the enactment of laws. Other ministries providing social security-related services include: the Ministry of Public Service for pension management of civil servants, the Ministry of Health which is developing the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS); and the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development which oversees the operation of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).

Is social security a right for a worker?

Yes. It is provided for in Article 22 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) which states that: “Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security”. It is also included in Declaration of Philadelphia (1944) and International Covenant on Economic and Social Rights (1966, 1976). However, while it exists in the constitution of Uganda in terms of what the government considers important, it is not in the main body of the constitution.

What kinds of social security benefits are provided for globally?

There are nine sorts of benefit according to ILO Convention 102 and they include:

  • Medical care
  • Old-age benefit
  • Invalidity benefit
  • Survivors’ benefit
  • Sickness benefit
  • Maternity benefit
  • Employment injury benefit
  • Unemployment benefit
  • Family benefit

Are all the nine social security benefits provided in Uganda?

No. Employees of the private sector who contribute to the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) are entitled to five benefits, whichever comes first and they include:

  • Age benefit
  • Withdrawal benefit
  • Invalidity benefit
  • Emigration grant
  • Survivor’s benefit

Public servants are only entitled to Age or Survivor’s benefit.

What is NSSF?

National Social Security Fund (NSSF) is a semi-government agency responsible for the collection, safekeeping, responsible investment and distribution of retirement funds from employees of the private sector in Uganda, who are not covered by the Government Retirement Scheme. NSSF is a provident fund which means that employees are paid their benefit as a lump sum.

Who is eligible to contribute to NSSF?

Any employee of or above the age of sixteen and below the age of fifty-five years except an employee employed in excepted employment; a nonresident employee; and an employee not employed in Uganda.

What is the contribution that is made to NSSF?

The employee contributes 5% and the employer contributes 10%. However, the employer may choose to pay the complete 15%. The 5% deduction is made from the monthly salary of an employee.

Under what circumstances may an employee get his or her benefit from NSSF?

(a) Age benefit:

An employee is entitled to this benefit if he or she attains the age of fifty years and has retired from regular employment; or if he or she attains the age of fifty-five years.

(b) Withdrawal benefit:

An employee is entitled to this benefit if he or she attains the age of fifty years; and if he or she has not been employed under a contract of service for a period of one year immediately preceding his or her claim.

(c) Invalidity benefit:

An employee is entitled to this benefit if he or she is subject to such physical or mental disability as to be suffering from permanent total incapacity; or if he or she is subject to such physical or mental disability as to be suffering from partial incapacity of a permanent nature and he or she is unable by reason of that disability to earn a reasonable livelihood.

(d) Emigration grant:

An employee may access this benefit when he or she emigrates permanently from Uganda to a country with no reciprocal arrangement with Uganda and if contributions have been paid in respect of that member to the fund during four financial years.

(e) Survivor’s benefit:

In case of death of an employee, the survivor’s benefit shall be payable to the survivors. This could be a wife, a husband, a son or daughter under eighteen years of age or a son or daughter of or above the age of eighteen years who is wholly or substantially dependent on the deceased, a parent, a brother or a sister, a grandparent, a grandchild or any other relatives.

This is the protection which society provides for its members, through a series of public measures, against the economic and social distress that otherwise would be caused by the stoppage or substantial reduction of earnings resulting from sickness, maternity, employment injury, unemployment, invalidity, old age and death; the provision of medical care; and the provision of subsidies for families with children (ILO, 1984).

How is social security regulated in Uganda?

The social security and protection sector is regulated by government through the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD). The Ministry is responsible for policy functions, including tabling bills in Parliament for the enactment of laws. Other ministries providing social security-related services include: the Ministry of Public Service for pension management of civil servants, the Ministry of Health which is developing the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS); and the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development which oversees the operation of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).

Is social security a right for a worker?

Yes. It is provided for in Article 22 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) which states that: “Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security”. It is also included in Declaration of Philadelphia (1944) and International Covenant on Economic and Social Rights (1966, 1976). However, while it exists in the constitution of Uganda in terms of what the government considers important, it is not in the main body of the constitution.

What kinds of social security benefits are provided for globally?

There are nine sorts of benefit according to ILO Convention 102 and they include:

Are all the nine social security benefits provided in Uganda?

No. Employees of the private sector who contribute to the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) are entitled to five benefits, whichever comes first and they include:

Public servants are only entitled to Age or Survivor’s benefit.

What is NSSF?

National Social Security Fund (NSSF) is a semi-government agency responsible for the collection, safekeeping, responsible investment and distribution of retirement funds from employees of the private sector in Uganda, who are not covered by the Government Retirement Scheme. NSSF is a provident fund which means that employees are paid their benefit as a lump sum.

Who is eligible to contribute to NSSF?

Any employee of or above the age of sixteen and below the age of fifty-five years except an employee employed in excepted employment; a nonresident employee; and an employee not employed in Uganda.

What is the contribution that is made to NSSF?

The employee contributes 5% and the employer contributes 10%. However, the employer may choose to pay the complete 15%. The 5% deduction is made from the monthly salary of an employee.

Under what circumstances may an employee get his or her benefit from NSSF?

(a) Age benefit:

An employee is entitled to this benefit if he or she attains the age of fifty years and has retired from regular employment; or if he or she attains the age of fifty-five years.

(b) Withdrawal benefit:

An employee is entitled to this benefit if he or she attains the age of fifty years; and if he or she has not been employed under a contract of service for a period of one year immediately preceding his or her claim.

(c) Invalidity benefit:

An employee is entitled to this benefit if he or she is subject to such physical or mental disability as to be suffering from permanent total incapacity; or if he or she is subject to such physical or mental disability as to be suffering from partial incapacity of a permanent nature and he or she is unable by reason of that disability to earn a reasonable livelihood.

(d) Emigration grant:

An employee may access this benefit when he or she emigrates permanently from Uganda to a country with no reciprocal arrangement with Uganda and if contributions have been paid in respect of that member to the fund during four financial years.

(e) Survivor’s benefit:

In case of death of an employee, the survivor’s benefit shall be payable to the survivors. This could be a wife, a husband, a son or daughter under eighteen years of age or a son or daughter of or above the age of eighteen years who is wholly or substantially dependent on the deceased, a parent, a brother or a sister, a grandparent, a grandchild or any other relatives.

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