Media professionals are called on to be key actors in the promotion of social protection

ByWebmaster

Oct 5, 2023

GITEGA, October 5^th (ABP) – The National Institute of Social Security (INSS) in collaboration with the National Media Council (CNC) have organized since Tuesday October 3, 2023 in Gitega (center of the country), a four-day training session for journalists working in various media approved in Burundi, on the principles of social protection with a view to providing them with solid knowledge in the matter and encouraging them to become key players in promoting social protection for all.

In her speech, the chairperson of the CNC, Mrs. Vestine Nahimana, indicated that this training aims to equip journalists with the concepts of social protection so that they contribute to the mobilization of employers on the need to contribute to the INSS, to the social security of their employees. She also noted that this commission wants there to be a pool of journalists covering social protection-related issues.

Taking the floor, the Director General of the INSS, Mr. Emmanuel Miburo, pointed out that it is urgent to increase the social coverage rate which is currently at only 6%, while social protection is a people’s fundamental right, which guarantees the dignity of all people deprived of the ability to meet their needs.

He also indicated that social protection has a role in reducing and alleviating poverty and promoting social inclusion, but that the majority of employers violate this labor and workers’ right, and that sometimes they do so in complicity with the workers.

According to him, the notion of social protection remains little known and neglected by the general public. The director general of the INSS hopes to face this primary obstacle to the promotion of social protection thanks to the support of the media.

Note that despite significant progress in social protection, many projects, according to the permanent executive secretary at the National Social Protection Commission (CNPS), Mr. Arcade Nimubona, remain to be undertaken by sectoral ministers, in collaboration with development partners, to meet the real needs of the people.