Kathmandu, November 27

The government has said it will bring all the sectors within the social security scheme with cooperation from the private sector.

The newly-appointed Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security Rameshwor Raya Yadhav has express commitment to bring all the formal and informal sector workers in the umbrella of social security scheme.

Speaking at the programme marking the Social Security Day here today, Minister Yadhav called on all the stakeholders to ensure the success of social security scheme.

“The government wants to ensure the social security benefits of the entire workforce and their dependents. So, I request all the concerned stakeholders to join the scheme and secure the future of formal and informal sector workers.”

Speaking at the programme, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Ishwor Pokhrel said that though implementation of the scheme may be fraught with challenges in the initial phase, it will eventually benefit all formal and informal workers. “So, the government and private sector should join hands for success of the scheme.”

Yadhav further said the scheme will play a pivotal role in achieving the government’s goal of eradicating poverty by 2030. “All the sectors need to be clear that the government is the guardian for both of the workers and the private sector.”

According to him, the Social Security Fund (SSF) will look at the betterment of the entire labour sector rather than benefits of either workers or employers.

As per SSF, 10,477 employers and 115,606 employees have been registered for the contribution-based social security scheme for the formal sector firms so far.

Altogether Rs 181.32 million has been deposited in the fund till date.

The government has extended the deadline for firms to register their details and that of their employees at the SSF to November 29. But majority of the employers are yet to comply and the government has not decided whether or not to again extend the deadline.

The government had launched the scheme on November 26, last year. Under it, the employer contributes 20 per cent of basic salary of the employees and the latter contributes 11 per cent to the fund.

The government plans to extend the scheme for workers in informal sector soon.

However, it has yet to finalise the guidelines to include informal sector workers.