The Social Security System has begun issuing show-cause orders to Dumaguete businesses for failing to remit the SSS contributions of their workers.
So far, 11 establishments have been served the orders during a kick off activity of a nationwide campaign dubbed as Run after Contribution Evaders (RACE) which is simultaneously conducted in Binondo in Manila, Cabanatuan in Nueva Ecija and in Iligan, Lanao del Norte.
Atty Jacinto Cuisia, acting vice president for operations legal services divisions of SSS central office, said that out of the 11 non-compliant employers, four have failed to report the correct number of their employees and remit their workers’ SSS contributions, while seven did not remit their employees’ contributions to the SSS.
SSS will file the necessary criminal charges if the businesses fail to act on the show cause orders within 15 days.
Cuisia said they have convicted 74 erring businesses nationwide while 9,000 cases are still pending in different courts.
“But its not that bad because most of those who were issued show cause orders have settled their delinquencies off court in avoiding the rigidity of court proceedings,” he said.
He warned employers not to challenge SSS whose mandate is really to champion the cause of employees and as part of reform initiatives of the present leadership of SSS president and chief executive officer Aurora Ignacio.
Under the new law, RA 11199 otherwise known as the Social Security Act of 2018, delinquent employers may avail of the condonation program of their contributions without paying the accrued penalties up to Sept. 1 this year, six months after the enactment of the law.
In Dumaguete, the SSS RACE team headed by Atty. Cuisia and VP for the Visayas West 1 Lilani Benedian received feelers from pre-determined delinquent employers that they will settle their arrears.
The RACE team also encountered non-production of records related to the employment of employees, a lot of employees have no SSS coverage, some complained of non-remittance of their SSS contributions, among others.
Cuisia told reporters in Dumaguete SSS can only cover so much due to limited personnel, urging employers themselves to report, non-registration, non-remittance and under payment of their SSS contributions. (Juancho Gallarde)
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