SSS to extend office hours for household workers

MANILA, Philippines - The Social Security System (SSS), the state-owned pension fund for private employees, will extend its office hours to accommodate domestic helpers and their employers who will register for mandatory SSS membership as stipulated under the Kasambahay Law.

The SSS yesterday said all its branches nationwide would be open for business every Saturday of June to accommodate the additional membership applications.

President Aquino signed the Kasambahay Law, or Republic Act 10361, last Jan. 19 to ensure the coverage of household employees by various government agencies such as the SSS, Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), and Pag-IBIG Fund.

Domestic helpers include nursemaids, caregivers, gardeners, cooks, and laundry women.

SSS president and chief executive officer Emilio de Quiros Jr. said SSS branches will open on June 8, 15, 22 and 29 to issue social security numbers for domestic workers and household employers to facilitate their mandatory SSS membership.

“SSS can help household employers from solely shouldering the burden when their helpers face financial difficulties,” De Quiros said.

To get a social security number, domestic workers, including family drivers who are considered household employees under the SSS charter, must file an application by submitting their data to any SSS branch.

Personal data must be submitted with a photocopy of any of the primary documents such as the birth or baptismal certificate, driver’s license, passport, Professional Regulation Commission card or seaman’s book.

Those without any primary document can give two secondary documents, both citing their name and at least one indicating their birth date, De Quiros said.

“Without the documents, they will be issued a number that may be used for paying contributions and reporting for SSS coverage but not for availing themselves of benefits and loans. They will attain permanent SSS membership status upon submission of these required documents,” he said.

Household employers, meanwhile, need to secure a household employer ID number.

Existing household employers who still use their personal social security numbers in paying the contributions of their domestic workers will be given their household employer ID number during their branch visit or via e-mail or mail.