EMPLOYERS ADVISED TO MAKE REMIT CONTRIBUTIONS ON TIME TO NSSF

Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office responsible for Policy, Parliamentary Affairs, Labour, Employment, Youth and the Disabled, Honorable Jenista Mhagama (left), presents the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) best timely contributor award in the Manufacturing Sector category to Tanga Cement Plc Payroll Administrator, Fredrick Mbise in a function held in Arusha recently. Second left is Arusha RC, Mrisho Gambo and NSSF Director General, Godius Kahyarara.

Employers in the country have been advised to make timely remission of workers contribution to the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) in order to enable smooth realization of the members’ benefits accruing from the fund.

The advice has been handed out by Tanga Cement PLC (TCPLC) Human Resources Manager Ms Diana Malambugi, during a special interview in Tanga yesterday on the sidelines the company’s being awarded Best Timely Contributor in the Manufacturing Sector category by the NSSF, during the fund’s Annual General Meeting in Arusha recently.

The HR guardian noted that some employers either delay channeling members contribution to the fund, or don’t relay them altogether, a situation inconveniencing workers seriously when they finally report to NSSF offices to lodge claims upon maturity of their respective benefit packages.

“There is a wide range of benefits to which NSSF members are entitled like health care, maternity, old age pension, inheritance, incapacity and others, but they cannot be realized by members if their statutory contributions are not remitted to the fund on time, ”she said.

Speaking on the magic formula leading to Tanga Cement’s exceptional recognition, she said the excellence stemmed from the company’s superior financial management scheme, spanning the time contributions are deducted from workers’ salaries up to when they are finally submitted to the fund.

“Our victory is a great relief and pleasure to our employees that their contributions reach the destined point timely, it enhances their trust in the company and is a sure morale-booster which increases their productivity,” said the HR manager.

On why some employers delay to remit deductions timely to NSSF or fail all together to do so, she said the main reason was lack of efficient payroll management mechanism which can ensure smooth deductions and timely remission.

Another reason, she noted, was reluctant of employers to top up the statutory ten-percent off-salary worker deduction with an equal percentage to bring it to twenty percent, something which to some extent was caused by poor business.

Tanga Cement, which is trades on the Simba brand and listed on the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange, is home to 124 NSSF members.