Househelp employers risk legal action over NSSF dues

What you need to know:

  • The concerted effort to register domestic workers follows a pledge by President Uhuru Kenyatta to provide social protection for all Kenyans.

The social security fund will from next month mount a door-to-door inspection of residential houses to enforce a mandatory registration of domestic workers.

The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) exercise is intended to expand the coverage to all employees as required by the Constitution.

NSSF managing trustee Tom Odongo Wednesday said househelps, herdsboys, gardeners and drivers who shall not have registered with the fund by end of this month are among those targeted.

Authorised NSSF compliance officers will carry out the countrywide exercise expected to see three million workers registered.

The fund has also set up toll free telephone numbers to be used by those wishing to verify their status or lodge complaints.

Employers who fail to register their employees risk legal action, Mr Odongo warned.

“The law makes it mandatory for all employers to register their employees with NSSF. We have extended an amnesty for all employers to do this before May 31,” Mr Odongo said.

Employers are expected to remit Sh400 per month to the fund for the domestic workers.

“This will afford domestic workers a number of statutory benefits and grants including the age, invalidity and survivors’ benefits to enable then afford equal dignity like other workers in the formal sector,” he added.

The concerted effort to register domestic workers follows a pledge by President Uhuru Kenyatta to provide social protection for all Kenyans.

It is also in line with the draft NSSF Bill 2012, awaiting debate in Parliament.

Mr Odongo said failure to provide social security for domestic workers amounts to discrimination.