NAPSA Welcomes Launch of ILO Comparative Analysis with support from the Irish Government on Zambia’s Compliance with ILO Convention 1952 (No. 102).

We at NAPSA are proud to support and welcome the publication of the comparative assessment titled “An assessment of national legislation in view of a possible ratification of the Social Security Minimum Standards Convention, 1952 (No. 102)”, undertaken by the ILO in partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and support from the Irish government.

This milestone marks a significant step forward for Zambia’s social protection system. It underscores the Government’s, social partners’, and institutions’ collective commitment to aligning national legislation and practice with internationally recognised social security standards.

The ILO’s assessment provides a detailed comparison of Zambia’s social security legal and institutional framework against the nine branches and principles of Convention 1952 No. 102.  Some of the key areas evaluated include:

• Old-age benefits (Part V of the Convention)

• Invalidity benefits (Part IX)

• ⁠Survivors’ benefits (Part X)

• Employment injury benefits (Part VI)

• Medical care (Part II)

By identifying gaps and opportunities, the exercise offers clear guidance for reform, extension of coverage, benefit adequacy, governance and sustainability.

NAPSA has long operated in alignment with the spirit of Convention 1952 (No. 102) through the design and delivery of several social security benefits: retirement pensions, invalidity pensions, survivors’ benefits, funeral grants and the informal sector maternity benefit. 

Our vision remains to extend coverage to formal and informal workers and to improve service delivery, sustainability and equity.

The recent comparative analysis enhances our efforts by:

• Validating our progress and preparing the terrain for future institutional reform.

• Supporting the extension of coverage to workers in the informal economy and other vulnerable groups.

• ⁠Enabling evidence-based policy adjustment and strategic investment of our resources.

As we move ahead with Zambia’s social protection agenda, the collaboration between the ILO, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, NAPSA and other stakeholders becomes ever more vital. We invite employers, workers’ organisations, civil society, and development partners to join us in the journey toward full alignment with international standards, especially in the context of universal social protection as a key development driver and promoting decent work for all.

At NAPSA, we are committed to ensuring that every worker and every household can depend on social protection that is rights-based, sustainable and effective. This comparative analysis marks not an end, but a beginning of reinforced efforts to build a world where social security is not just policy, but practice.

We thank the ILO and the Ministry of Labor and Social Security for their leadership, and pledge to continue playing our part in building a stronger, more inclusive social security system for Zambia.