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.
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.”
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.
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.” (©Philippine Daily Inquirer 2022/Ben O. de Vera)
