• CHERYL G. CRUZ
Five business establishments in Bacolod City, among them a private elementary school, were served notices of violation May 19 for non-remittance of the SSS contributions of around 35 employees, amounting to P1.85 million.
The Run After Contribution Evaders (RACE) operation of the Social Security System Bacolod Branch, headed by Brenda Cruz, is the first for this year, and is part of the nationwide continuous campaign to ensure that employers comply with Republic Act 11199, or the Social Security Act of 2018, particularly on the correct and timely remittance of employees’ contribution, so that SSS benefits could be availed of.
These include maternity, sickness, retirement, disability, death, funeral, or unemployment assistance.
Under the law, employers issued violation notices are given 15 days to coordinate with their respective servicing SSS branch office to reconcile their records, and settle their contribution delinquencies, either via full payment or installment schemes.
Atty. Harry Solanib of the Operations Legal Department of SSS Visayas West 1 Division, told the delinquent employers yesterday that they must comply within 15 days, or face charges in court.
Under RA 11199, employers who fail to register their employees or have not deducted and remitted their contributions to SSS will be penalized with a fine ranging from P5,000 to P20,000, and imprisonment from six years to 12 years.
Josefa “Pie” Pineda, regional communications officer of SSS Visayas West 1 Division, said that once a business opens, the owner or employer is mandated, under RA 11199, to register it with the SSS, report and list all employees, and regularly deduct and remit the employees’ contributions.
This is not only for the social protection of employees, but also of the employers in times of contingencies, Pineda stressed. | CGC
