SSS to finalize bilateral pacts for protection of OFWs

The Social Security System (SSS) is expecting to finalize this year three more bilateral agreements with foreign counterparts for the social security protection of Filipinos workers abroad.

SSS chief actuarian and investment head Horace Templo said yesterday they are firming up negotiations with SSS counterpart in Belgium, Italy and Indonesia.

Aside from these three countries, SSS is still working out negotiations with six other countries such as Denmark, Israel, Libya, Micronesia, Republic of Palao and Sweden.

"We are now in various stages of negotiations with these six countries," he said.

At present, there are five countries where the SSS has existing bilateral agreement. These are Austria, United Kingdom, Spain, France, Quebec and Canada.

He said they have recently finished the first round of negotiations with Switzerland while the second around of talks is expected to push through in middle of this year.

Formal negotations with Italy, he said, were conducted in December 1999 and they expect to continue with the talks this year.

There are about 1,000 Filipino workers that will be covered in Switzerland once the agreement is inked.

About 150,000 workers, on the other hand are expected to benefit from the said bilateral agreement in Italy.

These bilateral agreements are not only aimed at increasing the agency's membership but also to enchance the social security services and coverage of overseas workers.

Aside from these agreements, the SSS is also putting up representative offices in countries where there are large concentrations of overseas Filipino workers.