By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Nov. 27: Lifting people out of extreme poverty would be possible only when the contribution-based social security scheme would be guaranteed, said Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Defense Minister Ishwar Pokhrel on Wednesday.
Addressing a function organised by the Social Security Fund on the occasion of the Second Contribution-based Social Security Day, DPM Pokhrel said the contribution-based social security scheme was a policy without choice.
“We are already too late. Without adopting this policy we cannot achieve the goal of eradicating poverty by 2030,” he said.
Industries have challenges of maintaining business and social responsibilities, said DPM Pokharel adding that both the employers and workers should fulfill their legal, professional and civic responsibilities.
The government was committed to taking a guardianship of both the labourers and employers, he said.
Since the contribution-based social security policy was a provision of the Act that was passed by the Parliament, there was no alternative to the implementation of the policy as it is.
“There is no other option but to participate in the social security, which was achieved after a long struggle,” he added.
The social security policy has many attractive schemes like medical treatment, health and maternity safety policy, accident and disabled security policy, dependent security policy and old age security policy, said DPM Pokhrel.
“Through the policy we are trying to end the prevailing uncertainty from labourer’s life and ensure a safe, dignified and self-esteemed employment,” he added.
Addressing the same event, Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security Rameshwor Rai Yadav explained that the social security policy had guaranteed workers’ security.
He said the policy had ensured fiscal security provision to make the employers responsible towards their employees and help them live a dignified life and to increase the productivity of the industries.
“The social security policy is beneficial for both the employers and workers,” he stated.
It was obvious to face problem in the initial phase of the policy implementation, said Minister Yadav, adding that the tri-party, government-employers and workers would together find out solutions to this problem.
Although it would take some time for both the employers and labourers to participate in the policy, ultimately both the parties would come under its criteria, said Senior Vice-Chairman of Chamber of Commerce Sekhar Golcha.
Chairman of the Federation of Trade Union Dinesh Shrestha said though the policy was initiated in the consent of tri-party, its outcome was not satisfactory as expected. “There are many challenges in its implementation part.”
Puskar Acharya, chairman of Trade Union Congress, said that the employers had not supported the policy as was expected.
So far 11,000 industries and companies and their 116,000 employees are registered under the scheme.
Of the total registered companies and employees, majority of them were from State 3. Total 7,046 employers and 87,242 employees are registered under this scheme.
Likewise, the Karnali State has the lowest number of employers and employees registered under the scheme. Only 105 employers and 150 employees are registered under the scheme.