By Melanie Aanyu,

The Government and workers’ representatives have agreed to scrap the 120 months-contribution thresh-hold requirements for National Social Security Fund-NSSF midterm access.

Usher Wilson Owere, the chairperson of the Nation Organization of Trade Unions-NOTU disclosed this during the Labor Day celebrations at Kololo ceremonial grounds.

The Gender, Labor and Social Development Minister, Betty Amongi later confirmed the development.

Speaking with a smile and vigour, Owere informed the president and workers represented by their union leaders that they have had a series of meetings, which resolved to scrap off the contribution thresh-hold.

Owere noted that the thresh-hold is currently hindering a lot of workers from accessing their benefits as it was envisioned while passing the National Social Security Fund (Amendment) Act, 2021.

Section 20A of the law titled “mid-term access to benefits” provides that a member who is forty-five years of age and above and who has made contributions to the Fund for at least ten years, is eligible for mid-term access to his or her benefits, of a sum, not exceeding 20 percent of his or her accrued benefits and those with disabilities can under the law withdraw up to 50 percent of their accrued benefits.

However, when the law was passed, the legal brains at NSSF and later the Attorney General interpreted it, saying for a person to be eligible for the midterm access window, in addition to being 45 years old, they must have religiously contributed to the fund for at least 10 years.