Contractual LGU personnel may now have SSS benefits

MANILA, Philippines - Thousands of job order (JO) and contractual personnel working in local government units (LGUs) may now be covered by Social Security System (SSS) benefits.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas said yesterday once they become SSS members, these contractual personnel can have access to financial assistance during times of contingencies such as maternity, sickness, disability, retirement or old age, and death.

Roxas said the program is the result of a memorandum of agreement recently signed by the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the SSS.

It aims to ensure the provision of SSS coverage for contractual and JO personnel.

“This will give equal opportunity to all those working in both national and local governments to enjoy the benefits of social security, whether they are holders of permanent positions or on a contractual or JO employment basis,” said Roxas.

He said contractual employees are those whose services are engaged by government in accordance with a specific work or job project requiring special or technical skills, to be accomplished within a specific period or not exceeding one year. 

JO workers, on the other hand, refer to those individuals or groups paid under a lump sum appropriation for a short duration having no employer-employee relation with the government.

Roxas said the MOA allows job order and contractual personnel, who are not members of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), to register under the SSS’ Expanded Self-employed Program Coverage as self-employed SSS members.