SSS files 400 criminal cases against erring employers

 The Social Security System (SSS) has filed criminal cases against more than 400 employers for violating the Social Security Law, which carry penalties of stiff fines and imprisonment, a top official said.

        SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Corazon de la Paz said 412 employers face charges for offenses such as failure to remit payments, refusal to show records to SSS officers, submission of inaccurate employment data and lack of SSS registration.

        “We don’t tolerate employers who deny their employees SSS benefits because of neglect or disobedience,” she said.

        The state-run pension fund expects to collect more than P60 million from 264 employers who failed to pay contributions and loan payments. The SSS imposes monthly penalties of 3 percent on late contributions and 1 percent for unpaid loans.

        The law requires employers to report all employees for SSS coverage and allows SSS account officers to check company records. Grossly negligent employers face up to 12 years in jail and fines ranging from P5,000 to P20,000.

        De la Paz said the SSS planned to intensify its legal actions against delinquent employers, after Malacañang gave it exemption from paying a filing fee for cases in the prosecutor’s office since February.

        The SSS has 47 cluster lawyers all over the country, including 21 in the National Capital Region, whose principal task is to file legal cases against delinquent employers.

------------------ 05 November 2007

Click link for more SSS inquiries

http://www.sss.gov.ph/