SSS goes after delinquent employers

The SSS main office in Quezon City. (File photo from the Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — The Social Security System (SSS) has resumed its program tracking down employers delinquent in remitting their workers’ contributions.

In a statement, the SSS said its president and chief executive Michael Regino last Friday restarted the state-run pension fund’s run after contribution evaders (Race) operations, which had been temporarily halted by movement restrictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic, in the National Capital Region (NCR).

During Friday’s Race operations in Metro Manila, the SSS rounded out 10 employers in the city of Manila, whose contribution delinquencies totaled P26.3 million. They had failed to remit P9.1-million worth of contributions from 95 SSS members, plus incurred P17.1 million in penalties.

“These employers were found to be delinquent in the payment of contributions even prior to the pandemic. As a general rule, we have given them 15 calendar days from the date of the SSS’s visit to settle their obligations,” Regino said.

Regino warned that under Republic Act (RA) No. 11199 or the Social Security Act of 2018, “an employer who fails or refuses to register their employees, deduct contributions from them, and/or fails to remit the same, including the employer’s share to the SSS, will be penalized by a fine of P5,000 to P20,000, and/or be imprisoned for six years and one day to 12 years, at the discretion of the court.”

“We urge delinquent employers to voluntarily fulfill their obligations under the Social Security Law. They should be our partners in providing meaningful social security protection to our private-sector workers,” the SSS chief said.

While Race enforces compliance to employers’ statutory obligations under RA 11199, the SSS was also giving delinquents a chance to settle their dues via the pandemic relief and restructuring programs (PRRPs) launched late last year, which Regino said “provides more amicable and flexible payment terms… to alleviate the burden of employers and members adversely affected” by the prolonged COVID-19 crisis.

“Among these programs is PRRP 2, a social security contribution penalty condonation program for employers, which covers the applicable month of March 2020 and onwards. Qualified employers can settle their delinquencies through full payment or installment with the condonation of accrued penalties. This program will run until May 19,” Regino said.

“Another is PRRP 3 or the enhanced installment payment program, which allows qualified employers to settle their past-due social security and employees’ compensation contributions in installment with payment terms ranging from nine to 60 months, depending on the total amount of delinquency. It will run until Nov. 22,” he added.

The SSS said it undertook 15 Race operations nationwide so far this year, in line with its plan to “carry out more in the coming days and months as it aims to conduct at least three operations for each of its branch operations divisions.”

/MUF