154 households register their domestic workers with ENPF
MBABANE – The Eswatini National Provident Fund (ENPF) is continuing with its efforts to ensure more workers have retirement savings and benefits by encouraging domestic employers to voluntarily contribute for their domestic workers. With February being themed a month of love, a ‘Love Your Help’ campaign was launched in 2022, and it saw many households take up the offer to create better futures for their helpers.
This was through registering and making voluntary monthly contributions for their helpers. Traction from such employers was recognised, as the fund saw an increase of 15 per cent in the first year of these voluntary contributions. In 2023, the campaign saw 154 registered households able to contribute up to E445 000 for their domestic workers.
In 2024, the campaign was re-launched and has been running for the past three weeks, until the end of February. The legislation that establishes the ENPF currently does not compel employers of domestic workers to register and submit monthly contributions to the fund for this group of employees. But, to advance its mission statement of becoming a trusted social security partner in promoting the Kingdom’s socio-economic development, the fund opened this window for employers of domestic workers to register and submit monthly contributions to ENPF on a voluntary basis.
The fund’s acting Chief Executive Officer, Futhi Tembe, said they had seen it prudent that the campaign be executed again because it directly benefited many. “We feel it’s appropriate to remember domestic workers and encourage their employers to show their love, give their helpers hope for the future, and voluntarily register with the fund to pay contributions on their behalf. We’re using the hashtag ‘Love Your Help’ to raise awareness and encourage all domestic employers to show some love and ensure their workers have access to the social security they so much need,” she said.
‘LOVE YOUR HELP INITIATIVE’
Tembe further explained that the ‘Love Your Help’ initiative was developed because domestic workers were the most disadvantaged when it came to retirement planning, yet they play a vital role in households.
“We want to make sure that domestic workers retire with dignity, and that they receive the provident fund benefits in case they’re unable to continue working due to unforeseen circumstances. Once registered, they will be eligible for the same benefits that ENPF members receive, including; Age Benefit at age 50, Retirement Benefit at age 45, Disability Benefit at any age, and the Savings Benefit, which allows them to add to their employer’s monthly contribution,” she said.
The acting CEO added that feedback from the domestic employers since the launch of the campaign had been quite impressive. Equally, the helpers have expressed their joy at starting a hope filled retirement journey.
In an interview with a domestic worker, Thembelihle Dlamini, who is among the households that have voluntarily added to the fund, she expressed her delight. “It is quite hard to save independently, especially because we have so many expenses. However, knowing that I have an employer who saves for me encourages me to do my best every day because they care about me,” she said.
Dlamini also said she was sensitised about the different benefits under the scheme, including disability, which gives her more comfort that should anything happen to her, she will be covered.