By Daisy CL Mandap
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| Unifil-Migrante protesters say mandatory SSS will add to OFWs' burden |
A group of Filipino migrant workers staged a protest outside
the Philippine Consulate offices today, Mar 21, against a new law that requires
all overseas Filipino workers to pay for SSS contributions. Republic Act 11199 or the SSS Act of 2018, is expected
to take effect next month.
The protesters, led by United Filipinos in Hong
Kong (Unifil-Migrante) said the forced SSS contribution, pegged at
a maximum of Php2,400 (HK$356) per month, would impose an additional burden on
OFWs struggling to make ends meet.
Unifil chair Dolores Balladares-Pelaez said that if the
Social Security System is worried about depleting its fund because of an
earlier law that granted an additional Php1,000 to members’ monthly pensions,
it should just step up its collection instead of burdening migrant workers.
“Noong isang taon (2017) Php13 billion ang hindi nakolekta
sa mga employer, bakit hindi sila ang habulin?”, asked Balladares-Pelaez.
She also said SSS should stop paying fat allowances to its
officers to keep itself afloat.
Reports published previously showed that SSS executives had
each been paid between Php1.6 million to Php5million a year in salaries and
allowances.
“Bakit tayo ang magpapasan sa korapsyon sa SSS?” she asked.
But she stressed that her group has nothing against OFWs who choose to be SSS members, but not all of them should be compelled to pay for membership contributions.
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| Mata |
SSS representative in Hong Kong ,
John Lester Mata, said the fear that the monthly contribution would cause a
heavy burden on OFWs, especially the new arrivals, may be unfounded.
Under the proposed implementing rules and regulations of SSS
Act of 2018, he said an OFW departing from the Philippines
But OFWs renewing their contracts will be charged three
months’ worth of contributions.
Previously, the minimum contribution was Php550 and the
maximum was Php1,760.
He said the forced contribution could be implemented
sometime next month, after the SSS conducts an internal consultation meeting.
During this time, a memorandum of agreement among SSS, the
Department of Labor and Employment and the Department of Foreign Affairs would
be signed to ensure the enforcement of mandatory contribution of OFWs.
Asked what assurance he could give to OFWs about the
benefits of paying their SSS contributions, Mata said, “As we have said before,
wala namang benepisyo na hindi binabayaran ang SSS.”
Mata also reiterated that if revenues are not boosted soon,
the SSS fund could be depleted by the year 2027. But with the new measures
including mandatory OFW and higher contributions, the fund could be kept intact
until 2045.
Meanwhile, the protesters also hit out at a resolution
surreptitiously passed by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration
Board on Aug 28 last year, mandating all OFWs to pay for life and medical insurance.
The implementing rules for the POEA resolution have yet to
be issued, although Labor Attache Jalilo dela Torre confirmed its existence at
a public forum last November.
If implemented, each land-based OFW would have to shell out
an extra US$144, or HK$1,200 for every two-year contract.
Balladares-Pelaez said mandatory insurance is not necessary,
especially for Filipino workers in Hong Kong ,
because their employers are already obliged under the law to take out insurance
on them to cover any untoward incident.
Here's a short clip on her statement:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Djl8sVIdQD0
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