SSS new contribution rates (SSS website)
Local and overseas workers slammed the implementation of members’ contributions to the Social Security System (SSS) and the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (Philhealth).
“We call on all SSS members especially our fellow workers to oppose this burdensome scheme until it is completely junked,” said Rogelio Soluta, Kilusang Mauo Uno (KMU) secretary-general .
KMU also announced their plans to file a temporary restraining order against the premium hikes in SSS and the PhilHealth on January 8 and will stage protests against the hikes.
Starting this January, SSS members contribution will rise to 11% from 10.4 % covering at least 30.04 million individual members and 871,642 employers, while Philhealth premium will doubled to PhP 200 per month or PhP 2, 400 a year.
KMU said that the 0.6% hike in SSS premium is a burden to members especially for the minimum wage earners.
The current minimum wage in the National Capital Region is PhP 429, or an equivalent of PhP 8,580 monthly. According to SSS schedule of contributions, the rate for this is Php 945. Employees’ contributions will be Php 308 and PhP 636.20 for employers.
But KMU said that this only means minimum wage earners would have to pay at least P25 more on premium contributions.
“We workers strongly demand the junking of the SSS premium hike. It is unjust and nothing but additional burden to us members. It would surely go not to additional benefits but only directly to capitalists’ and corrupt bureaucrats’ pockets,” said Soluta.
The group also rejected Communications Sec. Herminio Coloma’s claim that the SSS premium hike was needed to prevent the agency’s fund from going drying up. The hike in premium seeks to cut its liability of P1.1 Trillion and lengthen the agency’s life until 2043.
“How could the SSS dry up its funds when they can dish out millions of its members’ money just for the bonuses of its board members?” the labor leader added.
OFW’s protested in front of the Philippine Consulate in Hongkong. (Contributed photo/UNIFIL)
As of June 2013, SSS investments totalled to PhP 368.788 Billion, of which 37 percent are in government securities, 25 percent in equities and 4 percent in real estate assets.
SSS claimed it has a 12 percent average return on investment.
About 400 overeseas filipino workers (OFW) in Hong Kong, meanwhile, picketed the office of the Philippine Consulate General and condemned the Aquino administration for making them “cash cow” through the various contributions OFWs are made to pay.
This is a very unjust and insensitive move to heap upon us OFWs just as the new year is starting. In 2012, the fee was already increased from P900 to P1200, and now they want to collect P2,400 from all OFW members,” said Dolores Balladares, chairperson of the United Filipinos in Hong Kong (Unifil-Migrante-HK).
According to Balladares, the fee hike will be an unjust burden for OFWs especially those whose families were affected by the series of calamities that hit the country.
“At this time when many of us are already making ends meet, the new fee hike is very untimely not to mention without any basis ay all. This is the height of insensitivity of the government to the plight of OFWs,” said Balladares.
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