NAIROBI, Kenya
Social security provider, National Social Security Fund (NSSF) has announced plans to mount a door-to-door inspections in residential houses to enforce a mandatory requirement to register domestic workers with the fund, commencing early next month.
The door-to-door inspection will be conducted across the country by NSSF compliance officers to identify domestic workers – house helps, gardeners and herds boys and drivers among others – who will not have been, registered with the fund at the close of the amnesty period that closes on 31st May. Speaking in his office, NSSF Managing Trustee, Mr Tom Odongo confirmed that elaborate plans have been drawn to enforce the requirement to expand social security coverage to all employees as per constitutional (Section 43) requirements.
Ahead of the exercise, NSSF has also set up a toll-free telephone numbers 2713009, 2713010, 2713012, to be used by workers wishing to verify their status or lodge complaints/report their employers who have failed to remit their dues. Upon registration, the respective employers will be expected to remit NSSF monthly contributions currently amounting to Kshs400 to facilitate the domestic workers social security cover. The cover, Mr Odongo said, will afford domestic workers a number of statutory benefits and grants including the age, invalidity and survivors benefits; affording them equal dignity to formal sector workers in their old age.
“Following the Kenya Gazette Notice no 159 of 30th October 2009 that makes it mandatory for all employers to register their employees with NSSF, we have extended an amnesty for all employers to register their employees before 31st May 2013,” hesaid. “Ignorance of the law is no excuse and this means that, employers of domestic workers are required by law to register them with NSSF and remit their contributions or risk legal action.”
The concerted registration exercise for domestic workers comes hot on the heels of the recent commitment by President Uhuru Kenyatta to provide social protection for all Kenyans. The commitment is also in line with the draft NSSF Bill 2012, set for parliamentary presentation and debate this year. “We will champion the rights of all Kenyans, preserving and defending them not only through good governance and respect for the rule of law but also by extending the right to social protection,” President Uhuru Kenyatta said. And added: “We will expand the state pensions system so that all our citizens enjoy dignity in old age.”
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