Three sugarcane plantation owners were among the latest set of employers in Silay and La Castellana, Negros Occidental, ordered by the Social Security System Visayas to settle premium contribution and other obligations, totaling P1.9 million.
SSS Visayas West 1 division head, Lilani Benedian, who led the Run After Contributions Evaders (RACE) campaign Dec. 12, said that the collection of more than one-million pesos in contribution delinquency will benefit at least 100 employees.
Aside from the sugarcane plantation owners, also subjected to RACE early this week included a restaurant owner, a common carrier, and a fireworks distributor, who received written orders from the SSS for non-remittance of contributions and non-production of monthly collection list.
Since March this year, the SSS Visayas West 1 Division already conducted 12 RACE operations in the provinces of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor.
Benedian said SSS logged an initial collection of P7.1 million, as of last month, after 42 of 75 employers subjected to the RACE operations complied with the law.
Employers are mandated under Republic Act No. 11199, or the Social Security Act of 2018, to register their businesses and report for coverage all their employees, regardless of the status of their employment; deduct from the salaries of their employees their share in the monthly contribution; pay their own share of Social Security contributions, including Employee’s Compensation (EC); and remit these regularly to the SSS through accredited payment channels.
“Delinquent employers may visit the SSS branch which has jurisdiction over their registered business address for assistance in the application for condonation,” Benedian said in a statement, adding that failure or refusal to comply is punishable by a fine of not less than P5,000 but not more than P20,000, or imprisonment of not more than 12, or both, at the discretion of the court.
Concerned employers may opt to avail of the Contribution Penalty Condonation, Delinquency Management and Restructuring Program (CPCoDe MRP) which offers flexible installment terms ranging from 12 to 48 months, depending on the delinquency amount, Benedian added. ||
