National Social Security Policy.

The formulation of the National Social Security Policy came at a time when Social Security Providers are reorganizing their activities to respond to the market demand as related to free market economy. It is a product of a series of consultation with stakeholder which started in year 2001 and was been adopted by the government of Tanzania early in year 2003.
The general objective of the policy is to ensure that every citizen is protected against economic and social distress resulting from substantial loss in income due to various contingencies.
Underlying the above mentioned general objective, this policy plans therefore to address the following specific issues: (i) regarding social security as a right, the policy statement is that efforts shall be made to enhance awareness and sensitisation of the society regarding the important and provision of social security services as a right, (ii) regarding the portability of social security benefits, the policy states there shall be regulated mechanisms established to enable portability of benefit rights when a member moves from one to another, (iii) concerning the reciprocal agreements for transfer of benefits, the policy states that legal mechanisms shall be developed to provide for reciprocal agreements with other countries of social security benefits across nations, (iv) for the issue of financing of social security services, the policy statement is that: (a) services under Social Assistance Programs shall be offered on a means-tested basis and financed by the general tax revenue and other grants, (b) mechanisms shall be established to ensure that all salaried employees and individuals, who can afford to contribute to the mandatory schemes, do so to ensure enhancement of benefits, (v) regarding good governance, the policy stipulate that there shall be an act to govern and standardize operations of the social security sector. The law shall also provide for the establishment of a regulatory body that shall ensure smooth and efficient operations of the sector.