70% Zimbabweans excluded from social security coverage

BUSINESS REPORTER

More than 70% of Zimbabwe’s total labour force are excluded from National Social Security Authority (NSSA)’s social security coverage which means they have no fall back once they are no longer working, an executive said this week.

The exclusion of the bulk of the country’s workforce comes as at a time the economic crisis has resulted in many companies closing down, throwing many workers onto the streets.

To eke out a living, most have turned to vending to eke out an honest living.

“We have a crucial role to play in alleviating poverty and vulnerability through provision of social security coverage. However, due to myths and misconceptions about social security many individuals either fail to realise that social security is their rights and hence do not enroll on our schemes or simply do not access their benefits when they become eligible,” Shava said at the launch of the 2023 Journalists Mentorship Programme this week.

His remarks come at a time when the economic crisis has resulted in many companies closing down throwing many workers onto the streets.

He added: “Currently, only about 1.4 million Zimbabweans are covered under our social security schemes against an estimated total labour force of 3.813 million according to the third quarter of 2022 Zimstat labour force presentation.”

Zimbabwe is highly informalised.

Shava said NSSA was developing a social security scheme for those working in the informal sector.

“Already we have produced a report on the feasibility of extending to the informal sector in partnership with the International Labour Organisation. Now we intend to undertake intensive stakeholder engagement which will culminate into a nationwide informal sector needs assessment survey,” Shava said.