By Edgar Brandt
OUTAPI – The quality of service delivery by the Social Security Commission (SSC), particularly with regard to administrative and operational levels, should be seriously reviewed for improvement. This sentiment was expressed on Tuesday by the Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Doreen Sioka, when she officially inaugurated the SSC’s Outapi office.
“The non-operational status of the National Pension Fund and National Medical Benefit Funds as provided by the Social Security Act, is a matter of concern to us at the ministry as its renders the safety net of the SSC incomplete. I therefore take this opportunity to request the executive officer and his management team to ensure that both the National Pension Fund and the National Medical Benefit Funds are implemented without delay. It should be understood that the continuous non-implementation of these funds contravenes the provisions of the empowering statute”, said Sioka, whose speech was delivered by her Permanent Secretary, George Simaata.
The labour minister added that the purpose of any social security system is, amongst others, to provide social safety nets and social protection to its members or beneficiaries.
Said Sioka: “In order to do that, social security administrators have a primary duty of ensuring that the social safety nets and social protection are relevant and serve their intended purposes on a sustainable basis. In addition, it is expected that the services offered by the institution charged with the responsibility of administering a safety net program are accessible to a wide majority of the citizens in the most cost efficient manner. This includes the rollout of these programs to the most remote areas where the beneficiaries live. For this to happen, the agencies need to have facilities at which such services would be rendered.”
Sioka said she considered inaugurating the SSC’s Outapi office as part of the process of reforming the institution and restoring public confidence and trust in the SSC, as well as its image. The institution currently manages sizable funds of more than N$2.2 billion dollars on behalf of its beneficiaries and stakeholders. The SSC has branch offices in Windhoek, Rundu, Otjiwarongo, Walvis Bay and Keetmanshoop. These offices are complemented by satellite offices in Windhoek’s Central Business District, Lüderitz, Katima Mulilo, Outapi, Gobabis, Grootfontein, Mariental and Eenhana.
Also speaking at the inauguration in Outapi, the Governor of the Omusati Region, Sophia Shaningwa, encouraged both employees and employers throughout the country to find amicable solutions to avoid labour unrest. “Our country is facing issues of labour unrest, which is a situation that destabilizes the labour market and cripples the economy … They must be able to negotiate in good faith for the sake of our country and sacrifice where possible in give and take situations,” said Shaningwa.
Commenting on the inauguration of the SSC’s Outapi office the governor said she expects fairness, efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery. “Staff members must uphold the values of the Social Security Commission,” she stated.