Over half a million government workers under job order (JO) and contract of service (COS) employment status not covered by the Government Service Insurance System can now enjoy social security protection from the SSS.
The Social Security System membership expansion program, started by president and chief executive officer Rolando Ledesma Macasaet, not only improve the financial standing of the state pension fund but also fulfill further its mandate to provide social security protection to as many Filipinos as possible.
SSS executive vice president for Branch Operations Sector Voltaire Agas said that Macasaet decided to include temporary government workers, through the KaSSSangga Collect Program as they were not covered by GSIS programs.
“We are sad to hear their stories that, after decades of public service, they have zero savings and do not receive any pension when they retire,” Macasaet had said. “Through the KaSSSangga Collect Program, temporary public workers will be registered as self-employed members while their respective organizations shall collect and remit their contributions to the SSS, thereby helping them to become eligible for Social Security and Employees’ Compensation benefits.”
“As they are exposed to various health hazards while performing their duties, the more these workers deserve social security protection regardless of their employment status in the government,” Agas added.
Agas said more government agencies employing JO workers are expected to join the KaSSSangga Collect Program.
In January 2024 alone, he said that SSS had sealed partnerships with 32 government institutions in the National Capital Region. An additional 74 program partners from Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao also joined the agreements which secured the SSS membership of 2,251 temporary government workers, Agas added.
He urged other public sector leaders and groups to extend social security protection to their constituents and colleagues, by subsidizing the monthly SSS contributions.
“They can shoulder the contribution payments of their chosen recipients for at least six months, through the Contribution Subsidy Provider Program. Let us join forces to invest in the future of our fellow workers in government through equitable social security protection,” Agas said in a press release March 13.
He said that SSS was able to collect over P7.08 billion worth of workers’ contributions from 2015 to 2023 under the program.
Over 2,100 local government units remitted P4.66 billion worth of contributions while almost 700 national government agencies and government owned and controlled corporations paid P2.03 billion.
More than 100 state universities and colleges, on the other hand, remitted P289.91 million in SSS contributions and 86 local water districts paid P97.64 million.
“We commend the proactive stance of our partners in the government sector in providing adequate social safety nets to their JO and COS workers through active SSS membership,” Agas said, adding that their significant role as coverage and collection partners helped SSS in generating higher revenues while also providing meaningful benefits to all members.
SSS earlier said it logged P83.13 billion net income in 2023, with a huge bulk coming from contribution collection of P309.12 billion.
Agas attributed the outstanding financial performance of SSS last year to the efforts of the management and employees in intensifying collection activities, such as registering new paying members, improved collection from delinquent employers, and the 2023 contribution rate hike. ||
