By Francis H. Murray
The Director General of the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT) Mohamed Fuaad Daboh has said that less than 40% of media houses are compliant to the payment of social security contributions for their employees.
He made this statement on Tuesday 30th March 2021 during the official launch of a nationwide workshop for media houses and their owners organized in partnership with the Independent Media Commission (IMC) aimed at fostering the welfare of media practitioners in the area of social protection.
“The Commission conducted a countrywide survey in 2020 which revealed that less than 40% of media houses are compliant to the payment of Social Security contributions for employees. This survey report was a major source for a robust compliance action by the Operations Division,” he stated.
He said that key and more important to the joint NASSIT-IMC initiative is to deepen the knowledge of media stakeholders on the basic statutory provisions of the NASSIT Act, its operations, compliance and benefit payments with the media.
Citing Article 22 and 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international treaties that promote the recognition of basic fundamental human rights, the DG noted that the right to social security is a basic human right that must be accorded all persons regardless of their social status.
He added that the Trust is a statutory body that was established by an Act of Parliament and charged with the responsibility of administering the country’s national pension scheme as well as other retirement benefits to meet the contingency needs of workers and their dependents.
He added that the mandate of the Trust also covers registering employers and employees, collecting social security contributions and maintaining membership data. The Trust also issue statement of accounts to scheme members, pay social security benefits to members or beneficiaries as well as invest surplus funds in line with sound investments principles considering the liquidity, safety and yield concepts.
He added that because the scheme is compulsory for all workers in the formal sector, it is the responsibility of the employer to ensure that their employees are registered with the Trust and contributions paid on their behalf.
In her statement, Resident Minister North/West Region Hajah Isata Abdulai Kamara said that considering the vital role played by the media in the running of the state, it was time for its workers to be treated with the dignity and respect they deserve as well as to be given the requisite capacity to allow it to operate independently and fairly.
She noted that amid the scarcity of resources at the media’s disposal in the function of their duties, it is incumbent on all media owners to ensure that they meet the requirements set by IMC and other regulatory bodies in their day-to-day activities.
Project Coordinator Dr. Victor Suma stated that for very a long time, journalists have only survived using their identification cards or by yellow journalism, adding that the IMC Act of 2020 makes it incumbent on all medial owners to ensure that their employers enjoy the benefit of social security which warranted the need for the nationwide engagements with media owners.
The Chairman of the IMC George S. Khoryama noted that the Commission’s Act provides for the registration, licensing and regulation of media institutions with a total of 444, 217 newspapers, 24 magazines, 180 radio stations, 23 television stations including satellite linked Direct-to-Home (GHL) services registered with the Commission .
He said apart from the registered media institutions, there are 99 active newspaper and magazines, 139 active radio stations and 4 studio-based local television stations operating in the country, adding that journalists over the years have not in any way benefited from any form of social security.
“For 55 years, journalists have had no hope and aspiration for their welfare both present and future. Most of them worked for newspapers and radio stations to pay themselves on their ID Cards, and with no insurance, no end of service benefits. Most media houses did not pay taxes, they did not renew their registration,’’ he noted.
He further stated that amid the poor state of the media in the country, the journalist must be seen to be promoters of investment opportunities in order to attract the right investors, especially with indications that the prospect for a long-awaited private sector investment was on the way for the media.
President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) Ahmed Sahid Nasralla said that it was the duty of the association to cater for the welfare of its members as well as to create the space for free speech.
He assured that the association is cognizant of the many challenges faced by journalists and engagements are ongoing with other partners including the Labour Ministry, the government and the private sector to better their conditions of service, with social security considered key.
Civil Society activist in the region Nancy Gbamai called on all relevant stakeholders to come to the aid of media institutions especially community radio stations, in the area of sustaining them and in addressing their social security and insurance issues.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online (31/03/21)
