Paying axed workers: Samia earns kudos  

THE decision by the government to pay social security contributions to 14,516 civil servants who were axed from civil service for forging certificates has been welcomed by trade unions and pension funds.

According to them, the decision will serve as a relief to the axed civil servants.

The government decision was announced on Wednesday in Dodoma by the Minister of State Prime Minister’s Office (Labour, Youth and People with Disabilities) Prof Joyce Ndalichako.

At a press conference that was also attended by the Minister of State President’s Office (Public Services Management and Good Governance) Jenista Mhagama, Prof Ndalichako said the decision was approved by President Samia Suluhu Hassan for the implementation to start in November this year.

Commenting on the decision, President of the Trade Union Congress of Tanzania (TUCTA) Tumaini Nyamhokya said the government’s decision will provide a relief to the sacked civil servants.

“We have been working hard to convince the government to reinstate them but we couldn’t make it given the fact that forgery is a crime,” he said.

Mr Nyamhokya noted that after the failure on the initial move, they opted to ask the government on the possibilities of paying them their contributions they made to the social security funds.

“President Samia pledged to work on our request and we are grateful for her decision over the matter, we express our gratitude for such a decision because, something is better than nothing,” he noted.

He added: “This decision is part of the continued efforts by the government and trade unions in working on challenges facing members of the public service.”

Some of the issues that have been addressed through collaborative efforts between the government and TUCTA include mobile money and banking transaction levies, promotions and salary increment for civil servants and payment of long standing arrears.

During the press conference on Wednesday, Prof Ndalichako said the exercise to pay the former workers will kick off on November 1, 2022.

Both, the Public Service Social Security Fund (PSSSF) and the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), will spend 46.8bn/- to pay the former workers, who had dedicated their   service to the public, only to be fired after it was realised that they had presented false documents when securing employment.

Speaking to the ‘Daily News’ yesterday, NSSF’s Benefit Administration Manager James Oigo said the fund is ready to release the money as required.

“All is needed for the contributors are to submit the required documents before we process the payments,” he said.

“The documents should be submitted to our offices that are spread in every region across the country where, upon receiving the papers, we shall issue the money immediately,” he said, maintaining that NSSF remains standby to work on the matter.

The payment to be made is in regard to statutory monthly deductions from social security funds. For one to be paid one’s contributions by the pension funds, the minister said, one would be required to have two passport size photos, a bank statement and a copy of the national identity card, voter card or a driving licence.

Prof Ndalichako added that axed workers will be required to fill in the willing certificates that employers will submit to the pension funds to facilitate payments, which would be channeled to members’ bank account numbers.

The reprieve comes following President Samia’s directive during the 2022 May Day Celebrations that the parent ministries look at the possible measures to at least compensate public servants, who were axed from the payroll for submitting forged certificates.