DUBAI: As overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), back by lawmakers, petition the Supreme Court to nullify the recently enacted law requiring their mandatory membership to the Social Security System (SSS), other migrant workers are saying the government should likewise trim down the state-run pension fund’s “top heavy” set-up.
The new law, Republic Act 11199, requires OFWs to pay three months’ worth of contribution upfront for them to be SSS members. The law’s implementing rules and regulations which is under review, also has provision stating that overseas employment certificates will not be issued unless OFWs sign up with the pension fund.
Conrad Quizon, former Philippine Airforce captain and a popular Filipino community leader in Dubai said the OEC can be replaced with an OFW card, another flagship project of the administration that would function much like the UAE’s Emirates ID Card.
“The OEC should be abolished and replaced with an OFW card,” Quizon said.
Quizon said SSS, instead of trying to find ways to replenish its funds through the OFWs, should implement aggressive collection efforts.
“Proper collection sa delinquent SSS members at bawasan ang mg top executives na super-laki ang sweldo,” he said.
As of April 2019, SSS has a total of 46 executives: three executive vice presidents (EVP), 11 senior vice presidents (SVP) and 32 vice presidents, according to the pension fund’s website.
Still according to the website, the president gets a basic Php100,000 a month, an EVP gets a minimum basic of Php136,600; an SVP, Php116,000; vice presidents tet a minimum of Php98,300; assistant vice presidents, Php79,100; branch and department heads, Php60,600.
