South Sudan’s National Social Insurance Fund (NSIF) has ordered employers to begin registering workers and remitting social insurance contributions, with registration set to start on 1 October 2026.
The directive applies to employers and employees in the private sector, as well as South Sudanese working for United Nations agencies, diplomatic missions and non-governmental organizations, according to an administrative circular issued by the NSIF on Monday.
Rambang Tot Deng, spokesperson for the National Social Insurance Fund, said the directive is intended to implement Public Circular No. 5-2026 issued by the Minister of Labour.
“The registration of contributors with NSIF shall commence on 1 October 2026,” the circular states, adding that contributors will be given a three-month grace period.
After the grace period expires, the fund said penalties for late registration will apply in accordance with the National Social Insurance Fund Act 2023.
The fund also directed registered contributors to remit the required contributions after completing registration, warning that penalties would apply for late or non-remittance.
According to Kur Ayuen Kou, Policy Advisor to the NSIF, contributions will be shared between employers and employees, with employers required to contribute 8 percent and employees 17 percent, making a combined contribution of 25 percent.
“The Act has 8% for employers and 17% for employees. So make up a total of 25%,” Kur said during the press conference.
The fund has also directed employers to remit arrears withheld from employees dating back to April 24, 2026.
Asked what would happen where employers had not previously deducted the contributions from workers, Kur said such cases would be addressed individually.
“There is an administrative communication with the particular employer, and they will be addressed on a case-by-case basis,” he said.
The announcement comes amid concerns from some employers and other stakeholders over the implementation of the social insurance scheme.
Asked about opposition to the scheme, including a reported court case involving petroleum-sector employers, Kur said the NSIF had not been officially served with any legal proceedings.
He said the fund remained ready to address concerns through its administrative mechanisms before matters proceeded to court.
Kur said the NSIF had spent recent months developing legislation, regulations, policies and systems before moving ahead with implementation.
He also said the fund is developing a digital system that will allow individual contributors to track their social insurance contributions and deductions.
The NSIF has urged employers and eligible workers to comply with the new registration requirements, with registration opening on October 1 and a three-month grace period before penalties for late registration take effect
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