The National Social Security Fund (NSSF), in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, has pledged to enhance social security compliance within the energy, oil, and gas sectors.
Peter Lokeris, the State Minister for Mineral Development while speaking at a sensitization workshop for players in the energy, oil and gas sectors at the Imperial Royale Hotel on August 29, 2023, pledged their support to the Fund by ensuring social protection for workers in the respective sectors.
“We are hereby instructing all oil-related companies, as investors, contractors, and operators, to get your NSSF books in order. NSSF has granted the sector an amnesty until February 1st, 2024, to register and update their staff contributions, as well as negotiate a suitable payment plan to avoid heavy penalties,” Lokeris stated.
Lokeris further added that his ministry would also support and play its part in increasing financial inclusion by supporting more small businesses to benefit from the oil sector.
During a sensitization session, Patrick Ayota, the managing director of the National Security Fund (NSSF), stated that they are collaborating with the Fund’s new strategic approach that focuses on extending social security coverage across the country.
“We are aware of the thousands of jobs that have been created and will be created in the expanding oil and gas sector, and we believe that this strategic partnership will help us enforce social security compliance within the sector in line with our new strategic approach, which aims to cover 50% of Uganda’s working population by 2035.” Ayota stated.
He added that the sector players would be given a grace period of 6 months to comply with the provisions of the NSSF Act, as amended in Sections 7 and 13 A of the NSSF Act, as amended, as required contributions by all workers regardless of the size of the number of employees, and Section 13A, which introduced voluntary contributions.
Betty Amongi, the Minister for Gender, Labour and Social Development applauded the Fund for creating synergies with strategic stakeholders that will bridge social security compliance gaps and Over 500 players in the oil and gas sector were tipped on how to fulfil their social security obligations during the workshop.
