State Media In SSF

Finally, all media outlets under the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MoCIT) have been affiliated with the Social Security Fund (SSF). It took eight years, after the enactment of the Contribution-Based Social Security Act, 2017, for the government media houses to be affiliated with the SSF in the first phase. Various reasons have delayed the affiliations. 

On the occasion of the eighth Social Security Fund Day the other day, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the affiliation of government media with the SSF was signed at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in Singha Durbar. In the presence of Prime Minister Sushila Karki and Communication and Information Technology Minister Jagdish Kharel, Executive Director of the SSF, Kabiraj Adhikari, signed the MoU with the officials from the media organisations, including the Gorkhapatra Corporation. 

Those signing the MoU included the Rastriya Samachar Samiti, Public Broadcasting Service Nepal (PBS), Press Council Nepal, and Minimum Wage Determination Committee. The affiliation marks the beginning of the inclusion of media organisations within the scope of social security, as stated by Minister Kharel after the MoU signing ceremony. 

The employees, especially those working on a contract basis in these government entities, will benefit from the Social Security Fund affiliation. Although the employees working on a permanent basis receive gratuity and other facilities like their savings in the Provident Fund at the end of their employment, those working on temporary and daily wage bases have to go home empty-handed at the end of their employment. 

Even those working temporarily for over 20 years get nothing. But with the introduction of the SSF, this situation has now come to an end. Not only that, the employees working on a temporary basis will see a hike in their pay as the concerned agencies have to add a certain amount to the contribution made by the employees in the social security fund. 

Now with the government media outlets joining the SSF, the private sector organisations too will be gradually affiliated with the Social Security Fund, ensuring the safety of their employees. This was reflected by Prime Minister Sushila Karki while addressing the 8th Social Security Day, who said that although the tenure of the current government is short, it is committed to building an integrated, sustainable, and efficient social security system. 

She also stressed that in a country like ours, a contribution-based social security system is essential to maintain intergenerational cost balance and ensure fairness. She also urged the private sector not to view social security for their workers as a burden but as a matter of pride.  In tune with the PM's appeal, Minister Kharel also said that all private and community media outlets registered and operating in Nepal would also be gradually affiliated with the SSF. 

By the time the country marked the 8th Social Security Day on Thursday, 2.6 million citizens had been brought under the umbrella of social security based on their contributions. The Fund runs various schemes for workers, including medical treatment, health and maternity benefits, accident disability, family protection, and old-age security. So far, the SSF has collected a total of Rs. 95.68 billion based on contributions. A total of 253,143 workers have claimed Rs. 17.72 billion in benefits. In addition to health benefits, the Fund also provides interest on savings, monthly pensions after a certain period, home loans, and educational loans, among other benefits.