Rwanda’s vision to improve social security, sure way for workers

It is clear that Rwanda is eying to reach between 40 and 60percent of the working population in terms of provision of social security, according to the fifth African Regional Social Security Conference which was held in Kigali from 15 to 16^th November 2012.

The conference was ended with suggestions that all countries address errors that have been harming the welfare of the working population both private and Government employed people, a move that will also oversee their economic development and general wellbeing of Rwandans.

The fifth conference has tackled on the challenges that were seen as similar in the whole eastern and central Africa. Those are delay of medical coverage payments for different institutions and other numerous challenges such as limited coverage, inadequacy of benefits offered and a need to feel its impact on the lives of ordinary citizens.

According to Angelique Kantengwa, the Director General of Rwanda Social Security Board, the conference which was co-organized by the East and Cen­tral Africa Social Security Asso­ciations (ECASSA) has provided all necessary information to harmonize the future of social se­curity as an avenue for the im­provement of living conditions in the region.

“It has been an opening for the East and Central African com­munity to exchange ideas and develop a common vision for the future of social security in contributing towards socio-economic development and growth,” she said.

“This conference is a key platform through which social security developers from around the region and the globe get to highlight the growth trajectory of social protection in the region,” said Uganda’s Richard Byarugaba, the outgoing chairperson of ECASSA.

On the Rwandan side, some achievements were so far registered in the provision of social security, but still challenges of limited coverage and medical insurance payments in some institutions take too long to reach the destination and some workers have been claiming their pension money is not paid and the records of the contribution are not clear.

But the RSSB has a vision which is to envision a comprehensive social security system that addresses the social security needs of all Rwandans as it strives to realize the country’s vision of social security for all by 2020. “This can only be possible through partnerships with both regional and international social security organs,” said Kantengwa.

According to the RSSB’s DG, in Rwanda, social security covers 9-10 per cent of the working population and the target for ten years ahead is coverage of 40 per cent- 60 per cent. For medical insurance the coverage equals 92 per cent of the population, but there is still a need to make more adequate the benefits offered.

The Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB) is composed by Rwanda Health Insurance (RAMA) which was combined with the former Caisse Sociale du Rwanda.

The fifth conference on social security was attended by 19 CEOs and DGs of social security institutions from six countries (Uganda, Burundi, Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda and Zambia).