DOLE urges barbers, beauticians to join SSS

The Department of Labor and Employment is encouraging barbers, beauticians, manicurists, massage therapists, and other workers in the informal sector to become members of the Social Security System so they can avail of housing and salary loans in the future.

Labor Secretary Patricia Sto. Tomas said the informal sector workers could borrow money from the SSS and use it to start a business of their own.

In a press statement, she said that barbers, beauticians, manicurists, massage therapists, and other workers who individually seek out clients for a fee including those who are paid on commission basis "may realize their dream of owning a parlor or a spa with a housing and salary loans from the SSS."

The labor department has also announced that it is starting a project that would make tricycle drivers become beneficiaries of the SSS.

DOLE is coordinating with San Miguel Corporation and Philippine Savings Bank to help the tricycle drivers by paying the counterpart of their monthly premium contributions.

In its pilot state, 22 tricycle drivers in Metro Manila are presently the beneficiaries of the program, which is in line with the DOLE-led Social Protection Program for the Workers in the Informal Sector. The program will soon benefit tricycle drivers in the rural areas.

The informal sector, according to the National Statistical Coordination Board, typically operates at a low level of organization, with little or no division between labor and capital and consists usually of household enterprises producing goods and services.

It contributes about one third of the country's Gross Domestic Product. Workers in this sector were estimated to total some 43.5 percent or about 15.520 million of the 35.66 million total labor force in January 2005. - Wenna A. Berondo