The Social Security System (SSS) said Wednesday it filed criminal charges against four business establishments for P15 million in unremitted employees’ contributions plus penalties.
SSS president and chief executive Rolando Macasaet said the state-run pension fund is poised to charge another 655 delinquent employers for not remitting P257 million in workers’ contributions.
Macasaet said in a statement a restaurant under the name Juanito Galvez, fire extinguisher’s retail-refilling supplier Chedda General Merchandise, BPO service provider e-Telecare and car spare parts importer Cinwha Trading Corp. deprived their 140 employees of availing SSS benefits or applying for loans because of non-remittance of their contributions.
“SSS previously visited the four employers during RACE (Run After Contribution Evaders) operations to remind them to pay the contributions of their workers. However, they failed to settle their contribution delinquencies despite receiving violation notices from SSS,” Macasaet said.
Macasaet said the legal actions taken by SSS against the employers proved that SSS was serious and determined to penalize business establishments who failed to deduct and remit the monthly contributions of their workers.
SSS vice president for operations legal services division and RACE team coordinator Renato Jacinto Cuisia said the fund has beefed up its RACE campaigns around the country.
Cuisia said it issued notices of violation and show cause orders to erring employers compelling them to settle their contribution delinquencies and comply with their obligations under Republic Act No. 11199.
He said that under the law, employers are mandated to register their businesses with the SSS and report all their employees within 30 days from the actual employment date.
“It is not just a legal obligation, but a moral responsibility of employers to deduct from the employee’s salary the employee’s share in the monthly SSS contribution and, together with the employer’s share, remit it to the SSS,” Cuisia said.