Swaziland

Note: This information is from 1999.

Old Age, Disability, and Survivors

Regulatory Framework

First and current law: 1974.

Type of program: Provident fund system.

Coverage

Employed persons.

Exclusions: Casual employees, domestic servants, and noncitizens.

Special system for public-sector employees.

Source of Funds

Insured person: 5% of earnings.

Employer: 5% of payroll.

Government: None.

A ceiling is placed on the maximum monthly earnings for contribution and benefit purposes.

Qualifying Conditions

Old-age benefit: Age 50, age 45 and retired from regular salaried employment, or any age if emigrating permanently.

Disability benefit: Permanent total incapacity for any work, or permanent partial incapacity and an inability to earn a reasonable livelihood.

Survivor benefit: The death of the fund member prior to retirement.

There is provision for reciprocal agreements with other countries operating a provident fund.

Old-Age Benefits

Total employer and employee contributions, plus at least 3% interest per year. The benefit may be paid as a lump sum or converted to an annuity providing periodic payments.

Permanent Disability Benefits

Total employer and employee contributions, plus at least 3% interest per year. The benefit may be paid as a lump sum or converted to an annuity providing periodic payments.

Survivor Benefits

Total employer and employee contributions, plus at least 3% interest per year. The benefit may be paid as a lump sum or converted to an annuity providing periodic payments. The benefit is payable to a widow, other dependents, or other persons designated by the fund member.

Administrative Organization

Ministry of Finance provides general supervision.

Managed by a tripartite board and director, the National Provident Fund administers the program.

Work Injury

Regulatory Framework

First law: 1963.

Current law: 1983.

Type of program: Compulsory insurance with a private carrier.

Coverage

Employed persons.

Exclusions: Domestic servants, shepherds, family labor, and casual workers.

Source of Funds

Insured person: None.

Employer: Total cost, met through the cost of insurance premiums.

Government: None, except as an employer.

Qualifying Conditions

Work injury benefits: There is no minimum qualifying period.

Temporary Disability Benefits

75% of earnings, payable after a 3-day waiting period until full recovery or certification of permanent disability, up to a maximum of 24 months. (The benefit is sometimes paid as a lump sum calculated according to the expected duration of the disability.)

Permanent Disability Benefits

A lump sum of 54 months' earnings, if totally disabled.

Partial disability: A percentage of the full benefit proportionate to the loss of working capacity.

Constant-attendance allowance: 25% of the permanent disability benefit.

Workers' Medical Benefits

Benefits include the limited cost of medical treatment expenses, the limited cost of appliances, and limited transportation costs.

Survivor Benefits

Survivor benefit: A lump sum of 48 months' earnings, minus any permanent disability benefits paid to the insured.

The full benefit is payable to dependent survivors; a reduced benefit is paid to survivors who were partially dependent on the insured.

Funeral grant: A lump sum covering the cost of the funeral, up to a maximum.

Administrative Organization

Department of Labor enforces the law.

Employers must insure the assessed liability with a private insurance company.