PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur (PIA) - The Social Security System (SSS) branch in Pagadian urges employers to settle their unpaid contributions for their employees during the three-day Run After Contribution Evaders (RACE) campaign in Pagadian City. 

Jacinto Felizarta from the operations legal department encouraged employers to comply with the SSS law to avoid prosecution.

“Unta mu-comply sila ani para dili maimplement ang legal process,” he said.

(I hope they will comply with this so that the legal process will not be implemented.)

Felizarta stressed that they are serious about implementing the law for neglectful employers while ensuring due process. He acknowledges their roles as stakeholders who provide livelihoods and contribute progress to the local economy. 

Felizarta explained further that under SSS Law, there are three violations: non-registration, non-remittance, and non-reporting of employees. He continued by stating that employers must cover their employees with SSS within 30 days.

The RACE team targeted P172, 225.50 in contributions from the erring fifteen employers and expected to pay the total amount within the 15-day grace period to settle their SSS obligation. Sanctions may be applied if they are unable to meet standard procedures.

Delinquent employers were informed of the agency’s condonation program, which offers them leniency in removing penalties through full-time or installment scheme payments from 12 to 24 months.

Last year, the SSS Pagadian branch achieved an 80 percent compliance rate through the RACE campaign, with the remaining 20 percent of establishments receiving written notices. Most of the employers complied and submitted to the order of SSS, which covered the social welfare of the employees.

Executive Officer II Remy Marie N. Kisio emphasized the obligation of employers towards their employees.  

“SSS law is very clear on the first day of their employment sa ilahang empleyado, kinahanglan cover na siya sa SSS,” she said.

(SSS law is very clear on the first day of their employment that their employees must be covered by SSS.)

The RACE campaign is conducted to ensure the welfare of employees who work both in the private and public sectors. This is also an avenue to raise awareness among the employees about the need to always provide social security. (KSA/RVC/HTB/KGP-GIP/PIA9-Zamboanga del Sur)