The Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Social Security System signed a memorandum of understanding for social security coverage of DILG’s job order or contract of service workers.
DILG Sec. Eduardo M. Año was represented by Asec. for Human Resource Development Florida M. Dijan while SSS President Aurora C. Ignacio was represented by Senior Vice President Mario R. Sibucao during the virtual signing ceremony recently.
Under the MOU, DILG’s contract of service and job order workers will be classified as self-employed members of SSS and can avail of SSS benefits in times of contingencies.
Government contract of service and job order workers are not covered by the Government Service Insurance System due to their employment status.
The MOU also states the DILG will act as the Coverage and Collection Partner of SSS. As a collecting partner, SSS authorized the DILG to collect and remit their monthly contributions through a salary-deduction scheme under SSS’ KaltaSSS-Collect Program.
“In case these contract of service and job order workers ceased to work from the DILG, they can still continue paying their SSS contributions as voluntary members so they can still enjoy the benefits and loan privileges provided by SSS,” Ignacio said.
The MOU also allows permanent or regular employees of DILG to join the program and continue paying contributions as voluntary members.
Dijan said the DILG is looking forward to the partnership that will benefit their job order and contract of service workers.
She added with the MOU, DILG accepts its role in assisting interested workers to register or enroll at SSS and in ensuring the prompt remittance of their SSS contributions.
Sibucao hopes such partnership can inspire other government entities to do the same for the social security protection of job order workers in government who are also colleagues, partners, and friends in rendering public service to all.
During the virtual MOU signing, Sibucao noted DILG and SSS are partners since 2014 in encouraging local government units toward SSS coverage of their job order and contract of service workers.
He added the partnership paved the way for the social security coverage of more than 219,000 job orders workers among 1,374 LGUs nationwide as of June.
As of June, SSS has partnered with 1,374 LGUs; 436 national government agencies; 101 state universities and colleges; and 63 local water districts covering 312,746 job order workers through the KaltaSSS-Collect Program with total collection exceeding P3.9 billion. – Press release
April 26, 2024
