Senate okays Phl social security accord with Spain

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino workers in Spain are now entitled to security benefits enjoyed by Spanish nationals with the Senate’s concurring with the new Convention on Social Security accord between the Philippines and Spain.

Sen. Loren Legarda, chairperson of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and principal sponsor of Senate Resolution No. 751, said the ratification of the treaty would ensure security benefits for some 12,638 Filipinos working in Spain.

“A covered Filipino and his dependents will be eligible for social security benefits under the same conditions as nationals in Spain. In the same manner, Spanish nationals working in the Philippines will be eligible to social security benefits under the same conditions as their Filipino counterparts,” Legarda said.

The Senate concurred with the treaty with 18 affirmative votes, zero negative vote and no abstention during its last session day on June 7.

The agreement aims to promote full employment and equality of opportunities for Filipinos working in Spain.

According to Legarda, the Philippines has signed bilateral social security agreements with Austria, United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, France, Canada, Switzerland and Belgium.