Kathmandu, March 22 : The social security scheme of the country is including migrant workers and self-employed persons from today onward.
On the presence of Prime Minister
Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', the Social Security Fund is hosting a programme
today to initiate the task of including migrant workers in the
contributions-based social security scheme.
Fund Spokesperson Bibek Panthi
informed that the Fund was extending its coverage to the migrant workers in
foreign employment.
Tens of thousands Nepali migrant
workers would reap benefits from the scheme once it comes to effect today, he
said.
In this connection, Fund had already
approved procedural guidelines to enroll migrant workers, informal sector
employees and self-employed persons in the social security scheme.
The trade union organizations have
long been demanding inclusion of informal sector employees and self-employed
persons in the net of the social security scheme.
Though informal sector workers have
been receiving benefits from the social security plan since three years back,
migrant workers and self-employed persons living abroad were being deprived of
the service.
The Non-Resident Nepali Association
has also long been advocating for including migrant workers in the social
security scheme.
Those obtaining new work permit
would be mandatorily included in the scheme from today onward. Daily around
2,000 people are obtaining work permit. Those obtaining work permit should
deposit contributions equivalent to a month salary to the fund.
Spokesperson Panthi said a worker
going abroad for employment would entitle to receive 10 percent discount while
depositing contributions worth amounting to a six-month salary.
The migrant workers living abroad
could enlist them from the website of the fund and deposit their contribution
amount.
According to the approved
procedural guideline, the migrant workers or self-employed persons living
abroad could participate in the facility by depositing at least 21.33 percent
amount of basic remuneration or minimum Rs 2,000 monthly and its three-fold in
maximum.
Panthi informed that 399,566
employees of formal sector have so far enrolled in the fund. Rs 30 billion and
870 million has been deposited to the fund.
The Fund has made payment of Rs 3
billion and 810 million to the contributors as per their claim. The
contribution-based social security scheme has been brought into implementation
since 27 November 2018.