By THE INDEPENDENT UG
Kampala, Uganda | JULIUS BUSINGE | Halfway through the recently launched whistleblower campaign, a nationwide drive aimed at encouraging workers to report employers defaulting on NSSF contributions, the Fund has unearthed over Shs70 billion from reported cases, as announced in a notice.
According to figures recently released by the Fund, as of January 8, 2024, 622 cases have been received, involving over 480 employers across the country, unearthing a substantial amount.
The data indicates that over 30% of the reported cases of nonpayment of NSSF contributions involve private security companies, followed by manufacturing and the education sector.
“The response from workers across the country, and across several sectors of the economy is encouraging. So far, the amount of money unearthed is either through our automated audit process or through direct demand notes,” said NSSF Acting Managing Director Gerald Paul Kasaato.
In November last year, the NSSF unveiled an upgraded web-based “Whistleblower Portal” to enable members to report defaulting employers.
The new features of the upgraded portal include complete anonymity options to protect whistleblowers from possible victimization and an automatic tracking aspect of reported cases.
Moreover, the new portal allows government labor inspectors to report government contractors who refuse to contribute to the Fund, as prescribed by the NSSF Act. The Act mandates all employers, regardless of the number of employees, to remit social security contributions monthly.
Kasaato added that once all reported cases are resolved at the end of January 2024, the Fund expects to achieve its compliance target of 60%, as announced at the launch of the drive.
He also mentioned that the Fund has established mechanisms through which employers can fulfill their social security obligations without affecting their cash flows, such as through deeds of settlement that provide employers with payment flexibility.
However, he emphasized that the Fund will not hesitate to take uncooperative employers to court.
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