Vice- President, Samia Suluhu Hassan, shows
PSPF brochures shortly after gracing a two-day seminar for prospective
retirees from all seven districts of Mwanza Region, yesterday. Second
right is Deputy Minister for Finance and Planning, Dr Ashatu Kijaji and
left is Public Service Pensions Fund (PSPF), Director General, Mr Adam
Mayingu. The seminar that was sponsored by the fund, aims at preparing
the prospective retirees for better retirement. (Photo by Our
Correspondent)
VICE-PRESIDENT Samia Suluhu Hassan has ordered Pension Funds in the country to take tough legal action against all employers who default paying their workers’ pension contributions.
The Vice-President gave the order in
Mwanza, yesterday, while officiating at the opening of a seminar that
focused on life after retirement, opportunities and investment organised
by the Public Service Pensions Fund (PSPF).
PSPF organised the seminar for 450 civil
servants who are expecting to retire from service soon, from all
districts in Mwanza Region.
The VP’s order targeted all employers
who have been either delaying or completely refusing to remit employees’
pension contributions.
She said that taking stern legal
measures was the only way to bring such a malpractice to an end. The
Vice-President explained that remitting statutory contributions to the
Pension Funds will facilitate timely payment of terminal benefits to
civil servants upon retirement from service.
Speaking on debts that the government
owes Pension Funds, the VP said the government was in the process of
verifying them before effecting payments.
She said that upon completion of the
verification exercise the government will pay without delay. The Vice
President insisted that the government will continue to ensure
contributions of workers from institutions that receive government
subventions are remitted on time.
She implored civil servants expecting to
retire soon or later not to give up after retirement, asking them to
reorganise themselves by investing in projects such as establishing
small-scale industries, agriculture and entrepreneurship.
According to the VP, investing their
terminal benefits in such economic ventures will help create employment
for youth instead of misusing their money. “Elders are dependable and
most important human resource for the nation. We are always told that
nothing goes wrong in their presence.
I, therefore, call upon PSPF to work
hard and with diligence to ensure these elders get their rights in
accordance with the law,” she said. She also cautioned the elders
against extravagance, asking them to spend their hard-earned cash in
areas that will get them income.
The VP hailed PSPF for training the
expected retirees, saying the training will help reorganise their life
after retirement. Deputy Minister for Finance and Planning, Dr Ashatu
Kijaji, assured the expected retirees that the government will supervise
and monitor the performance of Pension Funds so that they offer good
terminal benefits to their members.
About two week ago Dr Kijaji made more
or less similar remarks against pension contribution defaulters, saying
nonsubmission of the pension contribution was violation of the law,
adding that legal measures will be instituted against them
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