Ongwediva
The Namibia Wholesale and Retail Workers Union (NWRWU) secretary general, Victor Hamunyela, has condemned the Social Security Commission for “not honouring its obligation to pay out its members when they are on maternity leave”.
Hamunyela says the Social Security Commission (SSC) despite receiving membership fees from employees fails to pay members maternity benefits.
Hamunyela says SSC should shape up or ship out because it is not serving the purpose for which it was established.
He says instead of assisting its members the SSC instead “drowns its members in debt and causes injustice to the just born child”.
He appealed to the SSC to bring to task those who are not doing their jobs efficiently as the commission cannot continue receiving money from people who seem not to be on its system.
Some paid-up members also only receive benefits after they have already returned to work while they have submitted their claims and the other necessary documents on time.
“There should not be any excuses that the person is not appearing on the system if they continuously receive the money. Why do they take the money then? They are in a position to ensure the number of employees tally with that which is showing on the system, but this is not being done,” argued Hamunyela.
Currently members who are not listed on the SSC security system are not eligible to any payment and Hamunyela says a number of such cases have been registered with his office.
Sources at various branches of the SSC also revealed that a number of such claims have piled up at the commission.
The communication and marketing manager at SSC, Rino Muranda, however challenged members who have submitted their applications on time with the necessary supporting documents to report such incidents for the commission to investigate without delay.
Muranda says the SSC is not liable to pay out any benefits to members whose names do not reflect on the system, however in instances where it occurs such person is liable for a refund.
“You will have to be a registered member before you make any payment. It is a straightforward process. SSC will not pay out any benefits, but the money can be refunded,” he said.
He urged people to ensure they are registered with the SSC before making any payment.