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Iriga: SSS Naga: RACE not shame campaign but a reminder to employers

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Social Security System (SSS) Naga branch hosted this year’s Run After Contribution Evaders or RACE Campaign, not to shame the delinquent business establishment nor its owners but to remind them of their obligations.

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SSS Vice President for Luzon Bicol Division Elenita Samblero reiterated to their media partners not to name or post a photo of the establishment that the RACE team have visited. This is to avoid putting the said businesses in disreputable position.

“Alam namin na may pandemic pero kung ang employer mismo hindi magbabayad ng kanilang contributions, papano naman makakapag avail ng benefits yong members. Hindi ito kagaya in the past na may show cause order. This time, we want to raise their awareness and invite them to cooperate with us. We also appeal to the members na makipagtulungan sa amin, so that they can continuously enjoy the benefits due to them,” Samblero said during the press conference held Monday, May 16 at the SSS Naga Branch office, here.

Samblero added that they are also reaching out to the employers, with the focus on giving them a chance to avail of various SSS pandemic programs.

Fully aware that the COVID 19 pandemic basically crippled most of the businesses, SSS offered the Pandemic Relief and Restructuring Program-Enhanced Installment Payment Program or the PRRP 3 which capacitates employers to settle their legal obligation to SSS through various options.

Under the PRRP 3, the employer may opt to pay SSS within nine to 60 months depending on the total amount of their obligation either by paying the principal obligation in full and the corresponding penalties in installment or apply the monthly installments to the principal ahead of the payment for the penalties. Delinquent employers may also opt to pay in full the remaining delinquency at any time during the term of the Installment Payment Agreement (IPA).

The RACE team led by VP Samblero and select members of the media, visited five (5) establishments in Naga City and one (1) in Pili, Camarines Sur. This is the 6th time that SSS is conducting the RACE campaign in Bicol and 2nd in Naga City.

“The employer is given 30 days to report to the SSS. Meron pong grace period na mag report within 30 days from the 1st day of employment, kahit ilan or ano ang status ng employees. After the deadline, that’s already considered a delinquent employer. Last year, the SSS legal department issued demand letter to 26 employers. SSS will continue to monitor compliance of this employers to the law, to ensure that the members and their employees also get the benefits that they deserve,” SSS Acting Head-Bicol Luzon Legal Department Atty. Ma. Charissa Oliver-Velasco said.

The RACE campaign is pursuant to RA 11199 otherwise known as the Social Security Act of 2018. This is also in compliance to the directives of the newly-appointed SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Michael G. Regino to intensify the campaign as part of the branch operations sector coverage and collections strategy.

The law also directs all employers to deduct an amount from their employees’ wages/salaries in their monthly Social Security (SS) contributions, pay their own share of contribution including the Employees Compensation (EC) contribution. They need to regularly remit the amount to the SSS. All employers must register first with the SSS and report their employees for coverage for them to be eligible to the SSS benefits like maternity privileges, disability, death, funeral and other SSS benefits.

“Through our media partners, we hope that we can reach all the business owners to be aware of their obligations. We always give them ample time to settle their obligations,” Samblero said.

The RACE campaign is not just to instill employer’s awareness but also to infuse discipline, enhance collection efficiency and increase the level of compliance of employers.

(Source: PIA 5 – Camarines Sur)

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