Interview with Evariste Ondongo, Director General of the National Social Security Fund (CNSS), a public institution with a social mission and seven departmental directorates.
What are the missions of the CNSS?
The CNSS is a public institution with a social purpose, possessing legal personality and financial autonomy. Its primary mission is to manage the social security system for workers covered by the labor code in Congo.
In this capacity, it collects contributions and provides cash and in-kind benefits for the following three branches:
– The family benefits branch responsible for the family and maternity benefits service;
– The occupational risks branch responsible for providing benefits in the event of work-related accidents or occupational diseases;
– The pension branch responsible for providing old-age, disability and death benefits.
What are the priority areas in your action plan?
On January 28, 2023, during its budget session, the board of directors approved an action plan for the CNSS (National Social Security Fund). This ambitious plan focuses on the continuous modernization of working tools and the diversification of the system's funding sources. It is structured around four priority areas: mobilizing financial resources; modernizing management tools, working conditions, and user services; streamlining management; and promoting social security.
For each area, specific objectives and actions are planned that take into account the ambitions of the general management. For example, regarding the first area, the mobilization of financial resources, the aim is to implement all possible means to finance the CNSS's activities sustainably, by strengthening contribution collection mechanisms and diversifying resources.
Who is subject to the scheme managed by the CNSS?
The CNSS manages all workers covered by the labor code without distinction of race, nationality, sex and origin when they are employed on Congolese territory on behalf of one or more employers notwithstanding the nature, form and validity of the contract, the nature and amount of remuneration.
The law equates the following with workers: Apprentices; Trainees; Managers of SARLs; General managers of public limited companies, etc.
Are declarations for businesses digitized?
Yes, through the website www.CNSS.cg and on the E-declaration platform. This website allows employers to register on the platform; to authenticate themselves and access the E-declaration platform; to download a monthly nominative declaration of wages and contributions in order to submit their declarations; to complete a monthly nominative declaration of wages and contributions; and finally to print an acknowledgement of receipt.
It should be noted that in order to make a declaration, the employer must have an account and register on the platform using a form.
The e-declaration application and the website www.cnss.cg are accessible to all employers regardless of their size. It addresses the constraints of travel.