By Alvar Mwakyusa, 31 October 2012
Dodoma — THE Social Security Regulatory
Authority (SSRA) has withdrawn a public notice it issued in August, this
year, suspending Withdrawal Benefit from social security funds for six
months.
According to a statement issued here by SSRA late in the evening, the
government will also be working towards a resolution by the National
Assembly during the previous session that called for review of the
Social Security Laws (Amendments) Act number 5 of 2012.
The statement comes amidst public outcry across the country that such
notice was impractical, unrealistic and denial of workers' rights. The
contested legislation drew ire in the National Assembly during the last
session of the House, as MPs called for amendment of a section that bars
Withdrawal Benefit.
Kisarawe MP Suleiman Jafo (CCM) and his Ubungo counterpart, Mr John
Mnyika (CHADEMA) had expressed in separate occasions intention to move a
private motion to amend the law. Mr Mnyika had also challenged the SSRA
to withdraw a public notice it had placed in a number of media outlets,
announcing to suspend withdrawal benefits for six months.
Tuesday's statement means that members of social security funds
across the country can opt to withdraw their benefits before the
voluntary or compulsory retirement age at 55 and 60 years respectively,
as required by the legislation which was amended in April, this year.
The amended legislation had provided that no member of the pension
fund could withdraw his/her benefits for any reason before the
retirement age. Before the public notice in August that followed
amendments of the legislation in April, this year, members of pension
funds who had through various reasons had their employment contracts
expire before the retirement age were able to withdraw their benefits
after six months since they ceased working.
Timetable for the current sitting of the august House issued by the
Bunge office here yesterday shows that new amendments of The Social
Security Laws (Amendments) Act number 5 of 2012 are likely to be under
The Written Laws Miscellaneous Amendments, number 3, Act of 2012.
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