In a bold initiative to empower employees and safeguard their retirement savings, the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) of Uganda has launched its Whistleblower Campaign, unveiling a revamped web-based platform that encourages reporting of non-compliant employers.
Speaking at the campaign’s launch, NSSF Managing Director, Ayota Patrick, unveiled the ambitious Vision 2035 strategy, which aims to expand social security coverage from 11% to 50% of Uganda’s working population, grow the Fund’s assets from Ushs 19.4 trillion to Ushs 50 trillion, and increase customer satisfaction from 86% to 95% by 2035.
Patrick emphasized the importance of empowering NSSF members and making them integral to the organization’s compliance objectives. He highlighted the Fund’s dedication to addressing the issue of non-compliance and its innovative approaches to combat this problem.
In recent months, NSSF has engaged with employers across various sectors in Uganda, urging them to fulfill their statutory obligations by remitting social security contributions for their employees. The Fund has even offered amnesty to encourage compliance.
Despite these efforts, compliance remains a challenge. According to NSSF data, only 20,762 out of 36,426 registered employers are actively remitting contributions, resulting in a compliance rate of just 57%. This means that over 15,000 employers are failing to comply with their obligations, affecting their employees’ retirement savings. Shockingly, only 107 cases of non-compliance have been reported on average.
To address this issue, NSSF has revamped its web-based Whistleblower platform, providing aggrieved employees with a secure and anonymous channel to report non-compliant employers. The upgraded platform introduces three key features:
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Complete anonymity for whistleblowers: The platform now offers whistleblowers the option of complete anonymity, ensuring that neither the Fund nor the employers can reveal the whistleblower’s identity.
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Automatic case tracking: Members can electronically track their reported cases without the need to visit an NSSF branch. The platform provides regular updates on the progress of each case until it is fully resolved.
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Empowerment of government labor inspectors: The platform enables government labor inspectors to report government contractors and other employers who persistently refuse to contribute to the Fund in accordance with the new NSSF Act.
The NSSF’s Whistleblower Campaign is a significant step toward ensuring that employees’ rights are protected and that employers meet their obligations under the law. With enhanced reporting capabilities and a renewed commitment to transparency and accountability, the NSSF aims to create a culture of compliance and secure the financial future of Ugandan workers.
