1. The GAMBIA Social Security & Housing Finance Corporation Schemes Saibatou B Faal

2. Country Information A narrow strip of land and water almost surrounded by Senegal, 15 to 30 miles (25 to 50km) wide and 295 miles (495 km) long with the River Gambia, dividing the country length wise into two river banks (Northern river bank and Southern river bank)

3. Country Information Capital City: Banjul GDP $903.8 million (2013 The World Bank) Population 1.928 million (2014 The World Bank) Labour Force774,012(2013 World Bank) Life Expectancy 58 years (men) 60 years (women) (UN, World Bank) Currency Dalasi (Exchange Rate: 1 US$=42.00 Dalasi)

4. Enabling Legislations Social Security and Housing Finance Corporation (SSHFC) was established by Act of Parliament and the enabling legislations are SSHFC Act 1981 Injuries Compensation Act 1990 Social Security Act 2010 Housing Finance and Development Act 2010 SSHFC Act 2015

5. GOVERNANCE The legislation provides for the composition of a Board as follows: Chairperson Vice Chairperson (Permanent Secretary of the Ministry) The Managing Director The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry responsible for lands A representative of the employees of the Corporation A representative of the employee members of the National Provident Fund

6. GOVERNANCE A representative of the Pensioners A representative of the employee members of the Federated Pension Fund The President appoints ex-officio members of the Board

7. GOVERNANCE: TENURE OF BOARD MEMBERS Ex-officio members shall hold office for three years and may be reappointed for not more than one further term. A member may resign from office in writing addressed to the President.

8. GOVERNANCE: MEETINGS OF THE BOARD The legislation provides for Frequency of meetings - at least once every three months Emergency meetings – One third of the Board membership must request an emergency meeting. Quorum of a meeting – one half of the Board must be Present for a meeting to proceed. Decision making process (a simple majority) Minute recording – (a requirement) Board is empowered to regulate its procedure at meetings. The Board is responsible to designate a staff as Board Secretary

9. M ANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE CORPORATION The general policy of the Corporation must comply with the Act The minister may give general directives in writing to the Board on matter of policy and the Board shall comply with such directives.

10. MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE CORPORATION The Managing Director is appointed by the President.

11. THE SOCIAL SECURITY FUND The legislation established Social Security Fund, which consist of The Federated Pension Fund – (An Insurance Scheme) The National Provident Fund (A Savings Scheme) The corporation is tasked with the administration of the Social Security Fund.

12. The Injuries Compensation Fund The Injuries Compensation Act also tasked SSHFC with the joint administration of the Injuries Compensation Fund with the Department of Labour

13. ORGANISATION OF THE CORPORATION To carry out the assigned tasks, SSHFC is organised into the following Departments: Operations Department Department of Human Resources And Administration Internal Controls Department Finance & Investment Department Department of Research and policy planning Information Technology Department Public Relations Department Housing Department

14. EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYEE COVERAGE The legislation applies to Any employer not specifically exempted under the Act Any employee not less than 18 years and not more 59 years of age employed by an employer to whom the Act applies, Any employer who was covered under the Pensions Act 1950 before the coming into force of the current legislation Any citizen of The Gambia employed by Diplomatic Missions, International institutions similar to diplomatic missions or Non Governmental organization.

15. EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES EXEMPT FROM COVERAGE Civil Servants Non-Nationals employed in Diplomatic Missions, International institutions similar to diplomatic missions or non governmental organizations.

16. PAYMENTS INTO THE SOCIAL SECURITY FUND National Provident Fund (Contributory) Employer Contributes 10% of Basic salary Employee Contributes 5% of Basic Salary Federated Pension Fund (Non Contributory) Employer Contributed 15% of Gross Salary Employee does not contributes Interest accruing from investments relating to the two funds are paid into the respective funds. Any other income earned on the assets of the Social Security Fund or the Injuries Compensation Fund are paid to the respective Funds. Benefits/Compensations are paid out of the respective Fund.

17. PAYMENTS INTO THE INJURIES COMPENSATION FUND. Injuries Compensation Fund (Non Contributory) Employer pays 1% of gross salary upto a maximum of D15.00 dalasis

18. THE ACCOUNTS OPERATED UNDER THE SOCIAL SECURITY FUND A Members’ Fund Account An Income Account An Administration Account

19. MEMBERS FUND ACCOUNT All contribution receipts together with interest allotted to members of the NPF are credited to this account Benefits paid out of the NPF are charged to this account

20. INCOME ACCOUNT Interest accrued on investments and income from investments are credited to this account Interest allotment to members’ Accounts is charged to this account Transfers to the Administration Account are made from this account Transfers to the reserve fund are made from the account.

21. RESERVE FUND A reserve fund is maintained into which the following are paid Payment of fines and penalties under the enabling Act and regulations Contributions by employers and employees which cannot be allotted to a member’s account.

22. REGISTRATION OF EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES All registrable employers are required to register with the Social Security Fund within 30 days as from when they became registrable. An application form as prescribed by regulation is completed for the purposes of employer registration. Initial Contribution is required to commence on the first day of the month following the month the employer became registable under this Act An employer not registrable under the Act may register voluntarily provided the employees give their written consent. A self employed may register voluntarily.

23. REGISTRATION OF EMPLOYEES Employers are required to register their employees by completing the prescribed form Each registered employee is provided with a membership card. An employee member who secures employment with a new employer should produce his/her membership card to the new employer and the new employer should complete the prescribed transfer advice form.

24. CONTRIBUTION ACCOUNT The Corporation creates and maintains an account for each registered employee member Contributions received in respect of an employee member are credited to the contribution account of the member while any benefits paid to the member are debited from the member’s contribution account. A statement of accrued benefits for the Federated Pension Fund or a statement of account for the National Provident Fund is produced and forwarded to each employee member through his/her employer.

25. BENEFIT TYPES PROVIDED UNDER THE NPF The following benefits are provided Statutory Retirement Benefit Invalidity Benefits Withdrawal Benefit Survivors’ Benefit Redundancy Benefit

26. NOMINATION OF SURVIVORS Employee members complete the prescribed nomination form to nominate dependant(s) and must clearly specify how survivors’ benefit should be distributed among his/her nominee(s). The nominations could be updated periodically to reflect the changing circumstances of an employee member. Where a member fails to update the nominations registered and the circumstance of the member is found to have changed at the time when survivors’ benefit becomes payable, the benefit is paid to the curator of intestate estates for distribution in accordance with intestate laws.

27. FEDERATED PENSION FUND An Insurance Scheme Pension is accrued at a rate of 2% of salary for each year of service, subject to a maximum of 66.67%, where salary in defined as basic salary plus a fixed allowances. Neither salaries nor pensions are indexed

28. BENEFIT ENTITLEMENT A member must have served at least 5 years to qualify for benefits. Female members are allowed to benefit if they retire on marriage grounds. The five year minimum service would not affect entitlement in such cases. A member with less than five years service at statutory retirement age is paid a lump sum benefit based on the pension accrued. A member with less than five years and retires before the statutory retirement age would forfeit his/her benefits unless under circumstances of retrenchment or redundancy.

29. NATURE OF BENEFIT Service less than 10 years, lump sum equal to 5 x full pension entitlement Service 10 years and above pension is payable but part of the pension entitlement could be commuted into a gratuity

30. TYPES OF BENEFIT Normal retirement benefit Retirement benefit on marriage grounds Voluntary retirement at age 45 years. Ill-Health/Invalidity benefits Survivors’/Death benefit Redundancy/Retrenchment benefit

31. INJURIES COMPENSATION FUND The Injuries Compensation Act 1990 was enacted to replace the workmen’s compensation Act 1940. The new legislation remained dormant until July 1996 when it became into effect.

32. COVERAGE The law cover’s workmen of The Civil Service The Public Enterprises The Local Government authorities The Private sector employers

33. EXEMPTION Casual workers on piece meal contract Domestic workers Members of employer’s family living in employer’s house Out workers

34. REGISTRATION Employers register by completing the prescribed form Employee registration is done by completing the prescribed form supported by required documentation.

35. ADMINISTRATION The Scheme is jointly administered by SSHFC and the Department of labour. SSHFC –Trustee of the fund: registers employers and employees, collects contributions and pays compensations Department of Labour – Processes claims, prevention and receive specialist support from social Welfare and Medical & Health Departments.

36. TYPES AND LEVELS OF COMPENSATION DEATH/ FATAL ACCIDENTS 120 months of deceased member’s earnings where earnings are subject to a maximum of D1500 a month. Minimum compensation in D100,000

37. PERMANENT TOTAL INCAPACITY A Pension of 60% of monthly earnings which are subject to a maximum of 1500 Dalasi. Minimum pension is D100.00 Where the injured workman needs a constant attendant, then a constant attendance allowance of 25% of the injured workman’s pension becomes payable monthly

38. PERMANENT PARTIAL INCAPACITY Incapacity of 20% or more (pension payable equals the percentage incapacity multiplied by pension payable under permanent total incapacity). Incapacity of less than 20% (a lump sum is payable)

39. TEMPORARY INCAPACITY TOTAL TEMPORARY INCAPACITY 60% of earnings, which are subject to a maximum of D1500 is paid for six months Payment of pension may be extended for a further six months if the injured workman does not recover over the initial six months PARTIAL TEMPORARY INCAPACITY Injured workman receives a monthly compensation equal to 60% of the different between the pre-accident and post accident wage of injured workman over the period of incapacity.

40. COST OF MEDICAL TREATMENT Medical charges are shared between the employer and the Injuries Fund, where employer pays 25% of costs and the injuries fund pay 75% subject to a maximum of D10,000.00. Medical evacuation is subject to the approval of the Director of Medical services.

41. Thank you