July 26: The government’s liability for Social Security Fund (SSF) has exceeded Rs 1 billion during the four months of lockdown.

According to SSF, the government is yet to pay Rs 1.12 billion to the fund.

The government anticipating meltdown of economy and business due to the lockdown had announced to contribute to the SSF on behalf of the employees under their relief program to facilitate the private sector .

The finance ministry had announced that the government would contribute to the SSF on behalf of the affiliated industries and companies for the months of March, April, May and June.

Following the announcement, the government’s payable amount to the SSF has reached Rs 1.12 billion for the months of March, April, May and June.

So far, the government has only deposited Rs 186.7 million for March.

The Social Security Fund has already written to the ministry of finance to clear the pending amount. According to the fund, a total of Rs 940 million is yet to be paid by the government for the remaining three months.

Kapil Mani Gyawali, executive director of SSF informed that the government has been requested to pay Rs 940 million for April, May and June.

“The Ministry of Finance has assured SSF that it will deposit the pending amount within the month of July as the new fiscal year has started,” he informed.

Gyawali said that private establishments were reluctant to join the fund before the lockdown but now have gradually started joining the fund as the industry and business are affected by the pandemic.