SSS warns delinquent employers

MORE than 1,200 delinquent employers have been issued violation notices to settle their contribution amounting to over P335 million for nearly 19,000 workers, the Social Security System (SSS) said on Labor Day.

In a statement sent to The Manila Times, SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Rolando Ledesma Macasaet urged Filipino workers to be vigilant and regularly check for updates on their contribution records.

He said his agency's Run after Contribution Evaders (RACE) operations resulted in the issuance of violation notices on more than 1,200 employers nationwide, requiring violators to settle their delinquencies.

«Our members can now easily check if their SSS contribution record is updated using the My.SSS Portal, which they can access through their smartphones, and immediately report to our SSS branch office to investigate,» Macasaet said, adding that employer delinquency deprives employees of SSS benefits.

Members with non-updated contribution records will not be entitled to claim SSS benefits or apply for loan programs, the SSS official said.

«For example, an SSS member was hospitalized for 10 days due to an illness. Suppose their employer is not remitting the SSS contributions; in that case, they will be unqualified to receive sickness benefits from SSS because one of the requirements of the benefit is to have updated contributions,» he said.

He emphasized the importance of an up-to-date contribution record, as the monthly contributions of SSS members serve as the basis for qualifying for SSS benefits.

Meanwhile, Macasaet issued a stern warning to delinquent employers, saying that the SSS will not hesitate to file charges against them, adding that «non-remittance of SSS premiums is a criminal offense that violates Republic Act No. 11199.»

Under the law, an employer who fails to register his/her employees or has not deducted and remitted their contributions to SSS will be penalized with a fine of P5,000 to P20,000 and face imprisonment ranging from six years and one day to 12 years.