Times Of Swaziland: ENPF TO BE CONVERTED BY YEAR END

ENPF TO BE CONVERTED BY YEAR END
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BY KWANELE DHLADHLA  on 17/05/2019 03:48:00


MBABANE – A seven-month target has been set for the conversion of Eswatini
National Provident Fund (ENPF) into a pension fund.
Minister of Labour and Social Security Makhosi Vilakati yesterday disclosed that
he was fully aware that every stakeholder was highly expectant on the update of
the conversion of the fund.
Vilakati assured stakeholders that this was his first assignment since he got
into office, and some major strides had been achieved to date.
“The bill is with the LAB (Labour Advisory Board), which is a tripartite
structure wherein inputs are being made, and the target is by the end of the
month it should be presented to Cabinet before being tabled to Parliament.
I am very optimistic that by the end of this year we would have the legislation
on our hands,” said Vilakati during the stakeholders’ forum convened at
Happy Valley yesterday.
Challenged
The minister challenged every stakeholder to make use of the platform and make
meaningful contributions that would ensure that ENPF grows to be a
multi-trillion organisation.
Vilakati mentioned that growth of the fund was of particular interest to all
stakeholders, including government, for they know that if ENPF grows, members
would absolutely get improved benefits that would improve their lifestyles even
when they retire.
And if all emaSwati have improved benefits in old age, the Kingdom of Eswatini
will never be the same. Elderly people shall drive the latest cars and own
businesses in retirement out of the disposable income they would have had out of
ENPF.
Vilakati said this year’s theme was entitled ICT as an enabler of improved
social security service delivery and managerial performance in Southern Africa.
The minister quizzed how Information Technology transform the future of service
delivery? He said this question took him back to when  one had to join a long
queue just to withdraw cash in a bank.
This was before Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).
“As I observed the improvements made locally and beyond the borders of the
kingdom, I was absolutely convinced that indeed ICT can be an enabler to
improved service delivery,” Vilakati admitted.
Smiled
The minister said as soon as he smiled to the above conviction, he was struck by
another question. This time around, the question was on how ICT could be an
enabler to improved social security service delivery and managerial performance.
The minister said he would have erred, however, not to mention that government
had recognised the role that Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
could play in socio-economic development.
Vilakati recounted that in 2017, government launched an e-government
communication strategy meant to drive national innovation, entrepreneurship and
public service delivery through the use of ICTs.
The strategy was presented as an important tool to promote and market
e-government services to the public to allow their extensive use and present to
citizens and the business community, the benefits brought by technology.