SSS urges employers to go for Contribution Penalty Condonation Program

The Social Security System (SSS) on Wednesday called on employers to settle their unremitted employees’ contributions under the pension fund’s the Contribution Penalty Condonation Program that runs until Sept. 1, 2019.

The SSS has so far collected P378.71 million in unpaid premiums and has waived more than P1 billion in penalties from 16,460 employers with more than 155,000 employees, SSS President and CEO Aurora Cruz Ignacio said in a press briefing.

The numbers do not include household employers.

Ignacio said more than 115,000 delinquent employers have yet to go for the condonation program. “If all the delinquent employers in our established collectibles settle their unpaid premiums, more than 1.4 million employees stand to benefit.”

Noting the last-minute habit of Filipinos, Ignacio expects many delinquent employers to apply for the program in August—as the deadline draws closer.

“After this Contribution Penalty Condonation Program, employers who continue to violate the SSS Law must pay penalties or face imprisonment,” Ignacio warned. “It is a criminal liability.”

SSS Vice President for Large Accounts Antonio Agrabioso gave the assurance that the program will not encourage more employers to be delinquent in settling their employees’ contributions.

“Ang kinocondone po dito, gusto nating idiin, ay ang penalty lamang. Hindi po kasama yung principal,” he emphasized.

The Contribution Penalty Condonation Program is in line with Republic Act 11199 or the Social Security Act of 2018. —VDS, GMA News