Equatorial Guinea

Note: This information is from 1999.

Old Age, Disability, and Survivors

Regulatory Framework

First law: 1947.

Current laws: 1984 and 1990.

Type of program: Social insurance system.

Coverage

Employees, public officials, military personnel, the self-employed, clergy, members of production cooperatives, students, and other groups.

Source of Funds

Insured person: 4.5% of earnings.

Employer: 21.5% of earnings.

Government: At least 25% of annual social security receipts.

All of the above contributions also finance benefits for Sickness and Maternity, Work Injury, and Family Allowances, below.

Qualifying Conditions

Old age pension: Age 60 with 120 months of contributions of which 60 were in the 10 years immediately preceding retirement.

The required contribution period is reduced for public officials and military personnel who were between ages 50 and 60 when the law was implemented.

Disability pension: Substantial inability to perform all types of work or total inability to perform usual occupation.

Survivor pension: The insured person was covered or was a pensioner at the time of death.

Old-Age Benefits

Old age pension: 40% of the average salary in the last 2 years, plus an increase of 2% for each year of contributions over 10 years, up to a maximum of 80% of average salary.

Permanent Disability Benefits

Disability pension: If totally disabled, 40% of the base salary.

Constant-attendance supplement: 80% of the base salary.

Partial disability: 40% of the base salary, payable for 6 months if unable to perform usual occupation.

Survivor Benefits

Survivor pension: 40% of the base salary is payable to a widow aged 30 or older, regardless of age with children, or disabled. If the insured person was a pensioner, the pension is 80% of the insured's pension. The pension is also payable to a dependent widower.

A childless widow who is under age 30 receives a pension for 24 months only.

Orphan's pension: 20% of the base salary up to age 14 (no limit if a student or disabled); 40% for a full orphan.

Funeral grant: Equal to 2 month's base salary.

Administrative Organization

Ministry of Labor, Social Security, and Women's Welfare provides supervision.

Social Security Institute administers the program.

Sickness and Maternity

Regulatory Framework

First law: 1947.

Current laws: 1984 and 1990.

Type of program: Social insurance.

Coverage

Employees, public officials, military personnel, the self-employed, clergy, members of production cooperatives, students and other groups, the insured's family members, pensioners, and the disabled.

Source of Funds

Insured person: See source of funds under Old Age, Disability, and Survivors, above.

Employer: See source of funds under Old Age, Disability, and Survivors, above.

Government: See source of funds under Old Age, Disability, and Survivors, above.

Qualifying Conditions

Sickness benefit: One year of contributions immediately prior to the date of claim. The benefit is payable to the insured person and the insured's wife.

Maternity benefit: One year of contributions immediately prior to the date of claim.

Sickness and Maternity Benefits

Sickness benefit: 50% of the base salary is payable after a 3-day waiting period.

Maternity benefit: 75% of the base salary is paid for 6 weeks before and 6 weeks after the expected date of childbirth.

Workers' Medical Benefits

Benefits include medical care for up to 26 weeks, according to a fee schedule; free medicine during hospitalization, during pregnancy, and for the postnatal period (in all other cases, the insured pays 50% of the cost of medicine).

Dependents' Medical Benefits

Benefits include medical care for up to 26 weeks, according to a fee schedule; free medicine during hospitalization, during pregnancy, and for the postnatal period (in all other cases, the insured person must pay 50% of the cost of medicine for dependents).

Administrative Organization

Ministry of Labor, Social Security, and Women's Welfare provides supervision.

Social Security Institute administers the system and provides medical assistance according to agreements with public and private medical and pharmaceutical facilities.

Work Injury

Regulatory Framework

First law: 1947.

Current laws: 1984 and 1990.

Type of program: Social insurance system.

Coverage

Employees, public officials, military personnel, the self-employed, clergy, members of production cooperatives, students, and other groups.

Source of Funds

Insured person: See source of funds under Old Age, Disability, and Survivors, above.

Employer: See source of funds under Old Age, Disability, and Survivors, above.

Government: See source of funds under Old Age, Disability, and Survivors, above.

Qualifying Conditions

Work injury benefits: There is no minimum qualifying period.

Temporary Disability Benefits

50% of the base salary is payable after a 3-day waiting period.

Permanent Disability Benefits

Permanent disability pension: 50% of the base salary, if totally incapable of any work; the benefit is limited to 48 months if the insured person is only unable to perform his or her usual occupation.

Partial disability pension: 50% of the base salary is payable for 24 months if the insured person is unable to perform his or her usual occupation.

Constant-attendance supplement: 100% of the base salary.

Workers' Medical Benefits

Free medical care and medicines.

Survivor Benefits

Survivor pension: 50% of the base salary.

Administrative Organization

Ministry of Labor, Social Security, and Women's Welfare provides supervision.

Social Security Institute administers the program.

Family Allowances

Regulatory Framework

First law: 1950.

Current laws: 1984 and 1990.

Type of program: Social insurance system.

Coverage

Employees, public officials, military personnel, the self-employed, clergy, members of production cooperatives, students, and other groups.

Source of Funds

Insured person: See source of funds under Old Age, Disability, and Survivors, above.

Employer: See source of funds under Old Age, Disability, and Survivors, above.

Government: See source of funds under Old Age, Disability, and Survivors, above.

Qualifying Conditions

Family allowances: The insured person must be married, a widow with children, or single with natural children. Dependents related to the insured person who are under age 14, a student, or disabled may also qualify.

Family Allowance Benefits

Family allowances: Benefits are determined according to a family point system set by regulation.

Administrative Organization

Ministry of Labor, Social Security, and Women's Welfare provides supervision.

Social Security Institute administers the program through the Family Fund.