The Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) has officially introduced a welfare insurance package for its members.
The insurance package, according to information available will provide a comprehensive set of benefits such as death benefits, temporary or permanent disability payments, as well as loss of a spouse, and critical illness benefits to members who subscribe to the scheme.
The move was necessitated due to the fact that Ghanaian musicians who are not covered by any risk measures are not salaried workers, but rather ply their trade mostly on a contract and seasonal basis, hence the insurance policy.
The payment of actual compensation is based on the degree of incapacitation. The scheme provides cover of GH¢1,500.00 if the parent of a member dies naturally or accidentally. The parent should not be more than 85 years at the enrolment date.
Child benefit covers GH¢1,000.00 if the child of a member dies naturally or accidentally. The policy shall not make more than five pay-outs in the year among other benefits. The scheme has been carefully couched to protect all the members of the union.
The acting president of MUSIGA, Bessa Simons, promised to work hard to improve the living standards of members, adding he would use his expertise in the business field to assist Ghanaian musicians to find their feet in the industry.
He indicated that most of the aged musicians who are not in the active music business are currently living in deplorable conditions, and therefore there was a need to put in place an insurance package for them.
He continued that he would work hard to provide international exchange programs for Ghanaian musicians as well as implement a minimum wage policy to financially secure musicians.