TARLAC CITY (PIA) -- About 800 job order (JO) and contract of service (COS) barangay workers from San Jose and Victoria towns in Tarlac became self-employed members of the Social Security System (SSS). 

This after the state firm signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Liga ng mga Barangay municipal chapters for the provision of inclusive, affordable and sustainable safety net against contingencies that may result in financial challenges. 

SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Rolando Macasaet said they were registered as self-employed members under the KaSSSanga Collect Program to allow them to enjoy the SSS womb-to-tomb benefits.

“JO and COS workers are not entitled to the benefits enjoyed by regular government employees and the services they rendered through the years can never be credited as government service,” he stressed. 

The members may avail of Social Security (SS) benefits such as sickness, maternity, disability, retirement, death, funeral, salary loan, and calamity loan. 

Additionally, they are entitled to receive Employees Compensation (EC) benefits in case they suffered from work-connected contingencies. 

“These workers  play a vital role in attaining the government sector’s goals, yet they lack the benefits of regular employees. That’s why SSS is here to bridge this gap by providing them adequate safety nets for future contingencies,” Macasaet emphasized. 

On top of the SS and EC benefits, he also introduced the Workers Investment and Savings Program (WISP) for members contributing to the regular SSS program under the Monthly Salary Credit (MSC) of over P20,000. 

Meanwhile, members paying below the P20,000 MSC can contribute anytime to the WISP Plus for as low as P500. 

“SSS also offers an additional retirement savings scheme through our voluntary and mandatory provident fund programs which provide an additional layer of social security protection,” Macasaet stated. 

For her part, Governor Susan Yap underscored the impact of the SSS program on the financial security of JO and COS workers not eligible for the Government Service Insurance System.

“We have to save for our future. At P570, that is only P19 a day, we are already saving for the future. I hope that we can sustain this partnership with the help of our local government units,” she noted. 

The minimum monthly contribution for self-employed members is P570. 

In October 2023, SSS and the provincial government of Tarlac signed a MOA to ensure and promote the financial security of JO and COS workers of the Capitol. (CLJD/TJBM-PIA 3)