SSS urged to go after delinquent companies

CEBU, Philippines - The militant group AMA-Sugbo-Kilusang Mayo Uno has challenged the Social Security System in Central Visayas to take serious efforts in going after companies that have been delinquent in remitting their employees’ contributions.

Elpedio Caterbas of AMA-Sugbo-KMU said the failure of companies to remit their employees’ contributions on time is the major reason why retrenched workers could not avail of the P5,000 loan through a special program offered by SSS.

Because of this, the P12.5 billion fund from SSS contributions used in the Arroyo’s economic stimulus package would not go directly to workers but may just be used by corrupt politicians in next year’s elections, they said.

“Non-remittance of SSS contribution is rampant practices among companies of Metro Cebu. This shows that the government is not serious in helping the workers with the SSS program in the time of crisis,” the group said in a press statement.

The grant of the loan reportedly depends on the remittance of a company to SSS, thus, employees whose companies have been delinquent in remitting contributions are having a difficult time availing of the loan. 

One example is that of workers at a chicken dressing company in Mandaue City who found out that their company has allegedly failed to remit their contributions to SSS for several years.

Wennie Badayos, chairman of AMA-Sugbo-KMU, then challenged the SSS office in Central Visayas to go after delinquent companies “for their criminal acts of stealing the workers’ money.”

“Dili mi kuntento sa pag-sang-at ug kasong administratiba mahitungod sa pagtuki sa anomaliya sa opisina sa SSS kay wala gayud kini kasulbaran. Hinuon, kinahanglan nga kapasakaan ug kasong kriminal ang mga tagdumala sa kompaneyang didto sa korte aron kasilutan kini sa maong kalapasan,” Badayos said. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/JMO (THE FREEMAN)