Workers, employers push for deferral of SSS contribution hike 

Workers and employers groups called on the government to defer the contribution  hike for the members of the Social Security System (SSS), according to a report by GMA News.

In a forum, labor group Nagkaisa chairperson Sonny Matula said the government should give its own contribution to SSS based on the Section 20 of the Social Security Act of 2018.

“’Yung national government ay ni-require na magbibigay ng appropriations sa SSS annually pero hindi ito sinusunod ng ating gobyerno mula noong naitayo itong SSS,” Matula said.

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“Ang nagko-contribute lang ay ang employer at workers mula 1957 maliban sa naunang P500,000 seed money ng SSS na nagmula sa gobyerno,” he added.

Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairperson and Employers Confederation of the Philippines president  Sergio Ortiz-Luis pointed out that many businesses were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said the increase in the contribution for the members of SSS is a significant amount especially for the poor.

“Marami sa tao natin nawalan ng trabaho. Alam naman natin 98% ng enterprises natin eh mga micro industries. Kalahati noon halos nagsara. ‘Yung iba nag-iisip pa kung magbubukas o hindi,” Luis said.

“Napakahalaga kahit na piso eh dito sa time na 'to dahil kulang na kulang 'yung pera ng tao. Although, sasabihin na maliit lang naman ‘yan, eh para naman doon sa talagang isang kahig, isang tuka, malaki 'yan, malaking bagay 'yan,” he added.

The Social Security Act of 2018, which was passed to ensure the long-term viability of the SSS' fund life, mandates a 1% increase in the contribution this year, bringing the monthly contribution rate to 13%.

On January 4, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the deferment of the 2021 contribution hike for PhilHealth members.

On January 6, the House Makabayan bloc filed House Bills 8310 and 8311 to strike down the provisions in the law mandating the automatic increase in the contributions of the SSS and PhilHealth.

On January 7, Speaker Lord Allan Velasco filed House Bills 8316 and 8317 seeking to grant the President the authority to suspend the scheduled increases in PhilHealth and SSS contribution rates in "times of national emergencies.