SAN JOSE, Occidental Mindoro (PIA) — Thirty four employers in Occidental Mindoro have settled with the Social Security System (SSS) their unremitted social contributions for their employees, translating to 57.63 percent accomplishment as of June 2024.
The 23 employers have fully settled their balances, while 11 others have settled partially and applied for installment mode of payment. This is equal to P1,275,644 of collections that will benefit 91 employees.
The Run After Contribution Evaders (RACE) campaign of the SSS, an initiative done nationwide to remind delinquent employers of their obligations per the Republic Act 11199 or the Social Security Act of 2018, is a primary factor in this accomplishment.
During visits, the SSS team furnishes the employers a copy of a notice of violation of the said law due to failure to remit their share of their employees’ social security contributions.
Under the law, employers need to report their employees to SSS on the first day of their jobs and remit the corresponding monthly contributions of their workers. Failure to do so will lead to a penalty of P5,000 to P20,000 and imprisonment of six years and one day to 12 years.
Atty. Alejandre T. Diaz, acting head of the SSS Luzon South 2 Division, reminded the employers and employees of the importance of compliance with the Social Security Act of 2018.
“Para po ito sa inyo (employees), para kayo ay makakuha ng benepisyo [gaya ng] maternity, sickness, [at iba pa],” Diaz told the employees.
(This is for you, employees, for you to be able to avail benefits such as maternity, sickness, and others.)
Senior analyst John Michael Gayo emphasized that non-compliance of employers negatively impacts the employees.
“May mga cases po na may mga pumupunta sa opisina para mag-claim ng [social security] benefits, pero nade-deny kasi nade-detect na hindi pala nababayaran ng kanilang employer ang kanilang contribution,” Gayo said.
(There are cases where clients go to our office to claim social security benefits, but were denied because it was detected that their employers did not remit their contributions.)
When employers fully settle their balances, their employees will be fully entitled to claim their social security benefits.
Employers are advised to report to SSS on changes in their workforce as stated in the Social Security Act to avoid penalties and remit contributions on time to ensure that employees can receive their benefits.
The SSS team intensified their efforts in visiting more employers this year, aiming to conduct at least 12 RACE activities in different municipalities, versus the two previous years of four RACE campaigns to reach more employers and help more employees. (DSG/PIA MIMAROPA-Occidental Mindoro)
PHOTO ABOVE: The SSS-Occidental Mindoro team, led by Branch Manager Joey G. Monte de Ramos, issues a notice of violation to an employer in the municipality of Mamburao on June 14, 2024. This is the second RACE campaign in the municipality this year, visiting another batch of employers to remind them to comply with Republic Act 11199. (Photo courtesy of Evangeline Tiongson/SSS San Jose Occidental Mindoro Branch)
