Social Security System (SSS) will collect over P1.39 million in unpaid contributions and penalties after two delinquent employers were convicted by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC). This is a wake-up call for employers who are incompliant with the requirement of making SSS contributions for their employees.

SSS means business and offending employers can face jail.

SSS Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel F. Dooc said the RTC decision was based on a clear violation of RA 8282, or the Social Security Law.

“It is unfortunate that, despite several chances given to them to settle their obligations, they still refused to fulfill their duty to their employees, who devoted so much time in helping their businesses to prosper,” he said.

Quezon City RTC Branch 100 sentenced the offending employers with seven to 10 years behind bars and ordered them to pay P289,372.16 in unremitted contributions, which accrued between October 1989 and November 2014; along with a three percent penalty applied on the arrears until fully paid.

Employers have been neglecting such duties for a long time, but employees have been hesitant to report their employers for fear of losing their jobs. However, employee rights must be protected and, as it is enshrined in our Constitution, the state is obligated to protect workers from imbalances created by their employer. Non-payment of SSS contributions can lead to terrible consequences as employees may not be able to access such funds in an emergency.

With any luck, a lesson is learned from this case and I hope, if such employers exist in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental, that cases are brought forward against them./WDJ