JVR not inclined to enroll JOs to SSS program

CEBU, Philippines - For Talisay City Mayor Johnny De los Reyes, the city government is not interested to let job order workers enroll and register under the Social Security System Expanded Self-employed Program Coverage as self-employed members.

"Nindot ang programa pero ang pangutana, ma-sustiner ba sa atong mga job order workers (The program is nice but the question is, can our job order workers sustain the program)?" De los Reyes told The FREEMAN when sought for his reaction following the agreement signed between the Department of Interior and Local Government and SSS to allow job order and contractual personnel, who are not members of the Government Service Insurance System, to register as self-employed SSS members.

The City Hall has over 1,500 job order employees.

Job order workers refer to those individuals or groups paid under a lump-sum appropriation for a short duration having no employer-employee relations with the government.

Once they become SSS members, they can have access to financial assistance during times of contingencies, such as maternity, sickness, disability, retirement or old age and death.

De los Reyes recalled the complaint of some job order personnel who said they are taxed three percent of their salary as per Bureau of Internal Revenue rules and regulations.

The taxes are deducted from their salaries and wages semi-monthly.

"I recall when the job order workers' salaries were deducted three percent, they were complaining. Kung ato silang i-enroll, maka-sustain kaha sila nga ang ubang job order, three to five months ra ang ilang trabaho samtang ang uban nila diri sa City Hall tag-15 days lang (If we enroll them, will they be able to sustain it, considering that some of them only work for three to five months while others even work for only 15 days)," De los Reyes added.

De los Reyes, however, said he will still consult with his department heads, particularly the Human Resource Development, regarding the new directive of the DILG.

The DILG already issued a directive encouraging all provincial governors, mayors, and punong barangays to let their JO and contractual personnel to enroll in the social fund protection for them to enjoy the benefits of social security, whether they are holders of permanent positions or on a contractual or JO employment basis.

The DILG, however, clarified that LGUs have no obligation to pay the employer counterpart of the SSS contributions of their JO and contractual personnel.

The local governments should also ensure automatic deduction of the SSS monthly contributions and loan amortizations from salaries and wages of concerned employees, the directive said.

The SSS, on the other hand, shall provide free seminars on the importance and benefits of the social fund pension and monitor the compliance of LGUs with the terms of the agreement. — (FREEMAN)