THE state-run Social Security System (SSS) is urging more than 132,000 delinquent employers to avail themselves of the penalty condonation program following the approval of a circular on the non-imposition of penalties on delinquent contributions during the Social Security Commission (SSC) meeting last week led for the first time by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III as ex-officio Chairman.
Dominguez reported that close to 1.4 million employees in the private sector stand to benefit from the SSS employers' condonation program.
Delinquent employers may now submit their letters of intent to avail themselves of the condonation program at any SSS branch. The condonation program for unpaid contributions will be implemented until September 6, 2019.
“This is good news for employees of delinquent employers who may soon avail themselves of the condonation program and make themselves compliant with the social security law. As much as possible, we want to avoid lengthy judicial processes,” Dominguez said after the SSC meeting, which was held last March 13.
“SSS contributions are savings for the future and hardworking Filipino workers deserve to benefit from the contributions employers are duty-bound to remit throughout their productive years,” he added.
Under Republic Act 11199 or the Social Security Act of 2018, the Secretary of Finance is designated as ex-officio chairperson of the SSC, which is tasked to direct and control the SSS.
SSS officer-in-charge Aurora Ignacio said that about P10.66 billion in unpaid premiums based on established collectibles is expected to be collected from this one-time amnesty program provided for under the Social Security Act of 2018.
About P13.91 billion worth of penalties are expected to be waived if the employers tagged as delinquent will file and avail themselves of the condonation program.
The circular approved during the SSC meeting is covered by Section 31 of the Transitory Clause of RA 11199, which grants a six-month period for employers with unpaid contributions to file requests for condonation of penalties.
The six-month period shall commence from the effectivity of RA 11199, which was last March 5. (PR)