PARLIAMENT – Senate yesterday unanimously approved the bill that seeks to merge the Social Security Fund of Rwanda and medical insurance, RAMA, into Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB).

According to the bill, the new public institution will have the responsibility of regulating and promoting economic, social and other activities of general interest.

It stresses that the board has a legal personality, administrative and financial autonomy and shall be governed in accordance with the dispositions governing public institutions.

The main responsibilities of RSSB will be to monitor and promote social security and insurance, to register employers and employees covered under social security and insurance scheme, to register employees, self-employed persons and persons under social security and insurance coverage among others.

The bill had been tossed back to the commission in charge of social affairs and was given the mandate to analyse and correct some errors.

According to the vice chair person of the committee, Senator Stéphanie Mukantagara, the committee had examined and felt satisfied with the bill and asked the lawmakers to pass it.

"We did our best to review all the articles as had been recommended by the members of this house and we came up with the final law,” said Mukantagara.

Senators in response showed satisfaction of the work that the committee had done and endorsed the law after voting for all the articles in th elaw.

The law provides that all movable, immovable property, names and liabilities of RAMA and SSFR be transferred to RSSB.

RSSB is given a period not exceeding six months to have harmonised all activities of RAMA and SSFR. The period begins from the date of publication of the law in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Rwanda.

The current system provides for a payment of 8 percent contributions into SSFR for the provision of retirement and occupational risks and 15 percent into RAMA for medical care.

The merger would facilitate contributors, who will now be dealing with one party instead of the two entities as it has been in the past.

Ends