THE Luzon Central 1 Division of the Social Security System (SSS) continues to collect past due contributions from delinquent employers in the provinces of Pangasinan, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Aurora, Zambales and Bataan during its series of Run After Contribution Evaders (RACE) Campaigns last month.
Written notices were issued to 69 business establishments for non-registration of business and non-remittance of employees’ Social Security (SS) and Employees’ Compensation (EC) contributions. SSS aims to collect over P3.6 million worth of contribution delinquency and penalty from 47 delinquent employers and register 22 business establishments for SSS coverage. They were given 15 non-extendable calendar days to visit the SSS branch office with jurisdiction over them to put their records in order.
“It cannot be denied that a significant number of business owners are still unaware of their obligations under the Social Security Act of 2018 while others inadvertently neglect it for various reasons. Hence, the RACE campaign is now a regular activity of SSS to enforce immediate compliance among erring employers and help them settle their financial obligations. We are doing this not only for employers to regain their good SSS standing but also to help their workers attain active SSS membership,” said SSS Officer-in-Charge for Luzon Central I Engr. Primitivo D. Verania Jr.
Delinquent business and household employers can settle their unremitted contributions through availment of any of the two programs– Contribution Penalty Condonation, Delinquency Management, and Restructuring Program (CPCoDe MRP) which covers all single proprietorships, corporations, partnerships, cooperatives, and associations; and Contribution Penalty Condonation and Restructuring Program (CPCR-P) for household employers. Both SSS programs offer one-time payment or installment terms, depending on the delinquency amount with penalty condonation after delinquency settlement is completed.
For additional information on the above mentioned programs, employers may refer to SSS Circular No. 2022-21 and SSS Circular No. 2022-20 for CPCoDe MRP and CPCR-P respectively.
Affected employees can finally avail of SS benefits such as sickness, maternity, disability, unemployment, retirement, death, and funeral benefits, including short-term loan privileges such as salary and calamity loan. On top of the SS benefits, employed members are also entitled to EC benefits for work-related contingencies such as sickness, injury, or death.
“Should the employers need assistance complying with the SSS Law, they are advised to coordinate with the branch office that has jurisdiction over them. Should they still failed to fulfill their obligations, we will be compelled to pursue legal charges against these employers. So far, our previous RACE operations yielded positive result with SSS collection and employer compliance,” Verania concluded.
SSS Luzon Central 1 Division recorded P2.0 billion worth of contribution collection from January to May 2023, over six percent of which, or P130.86 million came from delinquent accounts. (UnliNews Online)
