Prime Minister Benvinda Levi on Wednesday, 14 October, called for the integration of more informal economy workers into the contributory social security system and for stronger support for the economic independence of vulnerable households. Levi was speaking at the opening of the 5th National Conference on Social Protection, representing President Daniel Chapo.

Among the priority groups identified for expanded coverage are self-employed workers, domestic employees, and small-scale producers. The stated objective is to extend protection to a greater number of economically active citizens and their families.

According to figures presented by the Prime Minister, between January and September 2026, social assistance programmes reached approximately 694,000 households, of which more than 435,000 were headed by women. During the same period, more than 137,000 families received subsidies through mobile wallets.

Under the mandatory social security framework, the National Social Security Institute (INSS) processed approximately 11,000 subsidies and more than 146,000 pensions in the first nine months of the year.

Levi also advocated for strengthening the Productive Social Action Programme through vocational training, entrepreneurship initiatives, financial inclusion, and improved access to the labour market. These measures are intended to help vulnerable families develop productive activities and build independent sources of income.

“We want to create capacity, not dependency,” she said, emphasising the importance of designing a system that supports beneficiaries in achieving greater economic and social autonomy.

Held under the theme “Investing in Social Protection is Investing in Human Capital”, the conference provides a forum for discussion on building a more inclusive and sustainable system. Levi framed this objective within the government’s Five-Year Programme, highlighting social protection’s contribution to citizens’ dignity and to households’ ability to withstand economic hardship.

She called on participants to put forward concrete proposals to improve the coordination of support programmes, service efficiency, and proximity to citizens, while also stressing the need to secure predictable and sustainable financing for the system.

“Investing in social protection is, therefore, investing in the resilience of families, in productivity, and in the capacity of citizens to participate actively in the development of the country,” she declared.

Source: Diário Económico
Original article: https://www.diarioeconomico.co.mz/?p=552583