The Director General of National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT), Mohamed Fuaad Daboh, has announced that a proposed Informal Sector Scheme Bill has received Cabinet approval and is set to be presented before Parliament for enactment.

Speaking during NASSIT’s annual press cocktail held at the Freetown International Conference Centre, Daboh described the bill as a major step toward expanding social protection coverage across the country.

He said the legislation is designed to address longstanding gaps by incorporating workers in the informal sector into the national social security framework.

According to Daboh, the proposed scheme will provide structured social security benefits to traders, artisans, and self-employed individuals who have traditionally operated outside formal employment systems.

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He emphasized that the initiative aligns with NASSIT’s mandate to ensure inclusive access to social protection for all categories of workers.

Daboh further disclosed that the Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security will soon table the bill in Parliament, marking the next stage in its legislative process.

He also commended the government’s recent minimum wage adjustment, noting that it is expected to increase contribution levels and enhance the value of future benefits for contributors within the scheme.

Delivering the keynote address, the Minister of Employment, Labour and Social Security, Mohamed Rahman Swaray, raised concerns over low participation rates among media practitioners in the NASSIT scheme. He urged journalists to prioritize their social security contributions, describing them as essential for long-term financial security.

Swaray also called on media proprietors to fulfill their statutory responsibilities by ensuring that all employees are registered with NASSIT and that contributions are remitted consistently.

In his remarks, the President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ), Alhaji Manika Kamara, highlighted the media’s role in promoting democracy and national development.

While encouraging journalists to enroll in the social security scheme, he appealed to NASSIT to strengthen its engagement with the media sector, particularly through capacity-building initiatives and support for media sustainability.

The event also served as an opportunity for NASSIT to provide updates on its operations. Daboh encouraged journalists to adopt data-driven approaches in reporting on social security issues to enhance public understanding.

Additionally, NASSIT announced that its Sewa Grounds facility is now fully operational, marking a milestone in the institution’s infrastructure development.

The program concluded with a networking session aimed at reinforcing collaboration between NASSIT and the media.