The National Social Security Authority (NSSA) held its annual statistical report dissemination webinar early this month with the permanent secretary in the ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Simon Masanga delivering the keynote address.
The webinar aimed to discuss the critical role of social security and workplace safety in achieving national strategies and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Number 8.
Masanga highlighted the progress Zimbabwe has made in developing policies and strategies to promote social protection, particularly for vulnerable groups.
He emphasised the importance of the NSSA in protecting and promoting the well-being of workers and their families, and praised the annual statistical report for providing a comprehensive overview of the authority's activities and achievements, including statistics on social security coverage and occupational injuries.
“As a country, Zimbabwe has made significant progress in developing policies and strategies aimed at promoting social protection, especially for vulnerable groups such as women, children, the elderly and people with disabilities,” he said.
“Our national strategies, such as the National Social Protection Policy and the National Employment Policy prioritise the expansion of social security coverage and workplace safety.”
Masanga said the significance of occupational safety and health in achieving decent work, and how statistics on occupational injuries contribute to the measurement of progress towards the SDGs, particularly Goal 8 on inclusive and sustainable economic growth and decent work for all.
He also acknowledged the challenges faced by workers in the informal sector, among them lack of access to social security and workplace safety standards.
He emphasized the need to expand social security coverage to workers in the informal sector and ensure that workplace safety standards apply to all workers, regardless of their employment status.
The permanent secretary expressed his gratitude to NSSA for its efforts in promoting social security and workplace safety in Zimbabwe, and expressed hope that the webinar would generate new ideas, energy, and partnerships to sustain collective efforts in reducing occupational injuries, fatalities, and diseases.
"We recognise the importance of social protection and workplace safety in achieving our national strategies and the SDGs,” Masanga said.
“NSSA plays a crucial role in ensuring that workers and their families are protected and have access to social security benefits.
“Occupational safety and health are fundamental aspects of decent work, and we are committed to expanding social security coverage to workers in the informal sector and implementing workplace safety standards for all workers.
“Through multi-stakeholder and multi-lateral cooperation, we can accelerate progress and reduce occupational hazards and risks.”
The online meeting brought together representatives from business, labour, academia and the media to exchange ideas and discuss ways to scale up good practices and reduce occupational injuries, fatalities and diseases.
The NSSA’s annual statistical report provides valuable insights into the state of social security and workplace safety in Zimbabwe and serves as a foundation for evidence-based policymaking and decision-making.
It reflects the authority’s commitment to promoting social protection and workplace safety for all workers in the country, as well as its dedication to achieving national strategies and the SDGs 8.
NSSA acting general manager Charles Shava gave a brief overview of the statistics according to the 2021 Annual Statistics Report.
“In 2021, 4 241 occupational injuries were reported under the Accident Prevention and Workers Compensation Scheme, giving an incidence rate of 4.6 per 1 000 insured labour force,” Shava said.
“The Basic Metal Production Sector was the most hazardous industrial sector, with an incidence rate of 31.2 per 1,000 insured labour force.
“There were 76 fatal injury claims processed in 2021 and a total of 87 admissions at the rehabilitation centre”.
With the NSSA and the Ministry of Public Service, Labour, and Social Welfare’s continued efforts, Zimbabwe is taking significant steps towards ensuring that workers are protected and have access to social security benefits, and workplace safety standards are implemented to safeguard their well-being.
- The NSSA 2021 Annual Statistical Report may be accessed at https://www.nssa.org.zw/