Bill to amend Social Security Act planned

By Sylivester Domasa

7th August 2012

The National Assembly has agreed to table a bill under a certificate of urgency in the coming ninth parliamentary session to amend the current social security Act of 2012 that prohibits members of various pension funds to withdraw their contributions before reaching retirement age.

National Assembly Speaker, Anne Makinda said here yesterday when ruling on a motion tabled by in the House by Kisarawe Member of Parliament Selemani Jafo (CCM), who wanted the government to come up with a bill that would amend the law.

The law whose amendments were made in April, this year, restricts members of various pension funds from claiming their contributions until they attain the statutory retirement age of 55 years. It also bars members of the social schemes from pulling out of the funds even when they lose their jobs under whatever circumstances.

It also bars members of the social schemes from pulling out of the funds even when they lose their jobs under whatever circumstances.

In his recommendations in the August House, the Kisarawe MP asked the government to ensure that members of the social security funds continue to get their pensions as the government works on the matter.

Under the current arrangement, the law guarantees beneficiaries to ask for a housing loan only from financial institutions.

But the MP insists that there must be a section that makes a beneficiary to get a loan to do other activities.

Jafo who was presenting a private motion said the social security Act of 2012, was unfriendly to part time employees as it does not allow an employee who is suspended or stops from work before the age of 55 to enjoy the contribution he had been making to the funds.

With that regard he asked the government to come up with a bill to amend the law in the coming ninth parliament.

Parallel to the move, Jafo suggested in his motion that the government should remove the sections of the current Act which direct a servant to apply for the pension to the president.

He asked the government to save mining workers from being expelled following claims that they conducted a go slow when asking for their pensions.

The Kisarawe MP either added that the government should review the pension funds calculation principles in order to remove the loopholes which exploit workers.

Jafo’s motion comes barely three days after Chadema’s John Mnyika had spoken of plans to table the motion. Mnyika who is also Shadow Minister for Energy and Minerals had planned to table the Private BIll yesterday ( Monday) in Parliament to press the House to review the amendments made to the Social Security Laws (Amendments) Bill, 2012.

Already, Mnyika who is also Ubungo legislator has written an official letter to the National Assembly Secretary Dr Thomas Kashilila expressing his determination to table the bill under a certificate of urgency.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN