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SOCIAL SECURITY: SLOW PROGRESS WITH POLICY ON INFORMAL AND ATYPICAL WORKERS
- 04 November 2024
- Social Development
- SA Legal Academy
A draft policy on extending social security to include informal and atypical workers has already been presented to the National Economic Development & Labour Council’s task team on comprehensive social security reform. However, given its fiscal, tax policy and institutional capacity implications, further stakeholder consultations are required.
This is according to Social Development Minister Nokuzola Tolashe, whose written reply to questions from the EFF’s Eugene Mthethwa also referred to Cabinet’s approval in March 2024 of plans to ‘refine’ the draft policy, informed by the input received.
Mthethwa’s question focused on an allegedly promised ‘social benefit scheme’ for local ‘artists’ – a term used to describe musicians and performers. Neither he nor the Minister mentioned a Green Paper on comprehensive social security and retirement reform released in December 2021 for public comment. However, the Green Paper does feature in a media statement on Cabinet’s 27 March 2024 meeting, when members were updated on progress in preparing a ‘White Paper for Social Development’.
According to the statement, both the White Paper and preceding Green Paper are underpinned by a review South Africa’s ‘entire social security system’. Once finalised, the White Paper will:
- set out ‘principles and guidelines for the reform of the country’s social welfare system to deliver better results for vulnerable groups’
- lay the foundations for ‘expanding … social assistance’ and developing ‘a ... system that is socially equitable, financially viable and efficient in meeting the needs of the most disadvantaged sectors of the population’, and
- pave the way for establishing a ‘national social security fund’.
The Minister’s reference to ensuing legislation tends to point to a long road ahead.
- Minister’s written reply
- 2021 Green Paper
- March 2024 Cabinet media statement
Published by SA Legal Academy Policy Watch
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