Tricycle drivers may become SSS members

Tricycle drivers would also soon become beneficiaries of the Social Security System. Recently, the Department of Labor and Employment announced that it had linked up with private sectors like San Miguel Corporation and Philippine Savings Bank to help the tricycle drivers by paying the counterpart of their monthly premium contributions.

The labor department said the program, which is still being tested in the National Capital Region, would also benefit tricycle drivers in the rural areas. It said the project is part of the Arroyo government, which is aimed to assist, and uplift the conditions of the lowly tricycle drivers.

Still at its pilot stage, an initial of 22 tricycle drivers in Metro Manila are the beneficiaries of the program at present. It is in line with the DOLE-led Social Protection Program for the Workers in the Informal Sector.

"This is a noteworthy undertaking in continuance of our decent work priority for the country's informal workers, and will serve as a model for replication in other companies, and regions, that are concerned with the upliftment of the poor and disadvantaged sectors through their corporate social responsibility commitments," said Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas.

In a press statement, she said that tricycle drivers, jeepney drivers, and other workers who service the populace, mainly through the "nationwide feeder roads alongside the main transportation infrastructure," are a growing portion of the country's informal sector. She said that persons who engage in this kind of work comprises half of the country's employed population of 30.635 million in 2004.

In NCR, DOLE said that the collaborative pilot project would subsidize the sustained payment of SSS premiums of the 22 tricycle drivers for an entire year in linkage with the SMC and PSB.

Under the same project, the DOLE-NCR office in coordination with these private companies would conduct monthly "value development seminars" for the tricycle drivers and their families, to provide them with the know-how and skills to sustain, and make the most of their livelihoods.

The labor department said it encourages its regional offices to duplicate the project to help tricycle drivers who are among the country's neglected informal sector workers. - Wenna A. Berondo