Some 62 workers of Pari Mutuel Urbain Camerounais, PMUC, in Bamenda, on April 22, registered and paid their contributions to the National Social Insurance Fund, NSIF.

The brief ceremony that saw workers receiving their registration numbers was witnessed by the population of Bamenda at the head office of PMUC Northwest situated on the Bamenda Commercial Avenue.

The Chief of Centre of the Northwest NSIF, Fidele Nkodo Amougou, in his opening remarks said over 8,000 Cameroonians have registered on the Voluntary Insurance policy scheme within few months after it was launched.

He said out of the 119 that have gone into voluntary Insurance in Bamenda, PMUC has taken the lead with 62 workers who have already been enrolled. “I can say PMUC workers are vision catchers, they have demonstrated a good examples to be followed be others,” Amougou said.

Congratulating PMUC workers for taking the bold step to register with CNPS, the Chief of Service for Reception and Registration at NSIF, Meceline Njong, said the new policy of voluntary insurance is for all, not only civil servants or workers in corporations.

She said Voluntary Insurance, VI, will bring hope to thousands of workers who have been, somehow, unfairly excluded from social security coverage, the fact that the social security system in Cameroon covers only persons of the formal sector,that is, civil servants, State agents, employees governed by the Labour Code.

“Today, what appeared to be an injustice has been repaired. She cited the Decree of August 13, 2014, restoring Justice. “Everyone now can register; including bike riders, taxi drivers, mechanics, farmers, business people so that they can receive pension at old age when they retire.”

Njong said they are out to sensitise and educate the working population to embrace this policy of Voluntary Insurance scheme.

The Branch Manager of PMUC Bamenda, Guy Fonté Mouafo, said he is a happy man because his workers are going to take care of their families, live a stress-free life after retirement because of the VI, instituted by PMUC.