Mandatory SSS coverage for OFWs pushed

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate is pushing for the provision of mandatory social security coverage for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to protect them in case of contingencies, the Social Security System (SSS) said over the weekend.

SSS president and chief executive officer Emmanuel Dooc said Senate Bill 1753, which seeks to amend the 21-year old charter of the pension fund, supports their vision of providing mandatory coverage to OFWs.

“Based on the latest statistics, there are more than two million OFWs around the world but only more than 583,000 are actively paying their SSS monthly contributions. With the help of Sen. Richard Gordon, our SS (social security) champion in the Senate, our goal is to make sure that all Filipinos in and out of the country are protected under the SSS,” Dooc said.

In case this gets implemented, Dooc said the SSS is ready to work with other agencies such as the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Labor and Employment.

Gordon said one of the ways to implement the mandatory SSS coverage for all OFWs is through the signing of bilateral social security agreements with different countries.

To date, the Philippines — through the SSS as lead negotiator — has already forged 13 bilateral social security agreements with Austria, UK and Northern Ireland, Spain, France, Canada, Quebec, Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Denmark, Portugal, Germany and Japan.

Gordon described Senate Bill 1753 as a landmark bill as it will enable the SSS to fulfill its objective of universal coverage.

“It is our constitutional duty to afford full protection to labor, whether local or overseas, and fundamental to this is the provision of social security protection to all Filipinos, including OFWs. It is likewise provided in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that everyone has the right to social security,” he said.

Dooc, for his part, said the bill will provide OFWs the mechanism to save for their retirement.

 He said OFWs paying the maximum monthly SSS contribution of P1,760 (about $35) for at least 10 years will be entitled to a wide range of SSS benefits and privileges.

These include a basic monthly pension amounting to at least P6,400; other benefits for pensioners like 13th month pension, dependents’ pension, and supplemental monthly allowance of P500 for disability pensioners; cash allowances in case of sickness or maternity; funeral grant amounting to at least P20,000; salary loan of up to P32,000; and direct housing loan of up to P2 million.

In the event of death, the SSS said 100 percent of their pension will be transferred to their spouse and dependent children as primary beneficiaries.

A provident fund scheme, called the SSS Flexi-fund, is also being offered exclusively to OFWs to allow them to set aside an additional portion of their earnings abroad and maximize their returns.

“SSS contributions are OFWs’ long-term savings for the future, especially when they eventually decide to return home and stay for good to retire,” Dooc said.