By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — A party-list lawmaker has proposed stiffer penalties against employers who fail to remit workers’ Social Security System (SSS) contributions and other mandatory benefits, saying thousands of employees continue to lose access to government services because of unremitted payments.
Kamanggagawa Party-List Rep. Elijah San Fernando filed six labor-related bills before the House of Representatives, with one measure seeking tougher sanctions against employers who withhold or fail to remit contributions to the SSS and other government-mandated benefit programs.
San Fernando said the non-remittance of workers’ contributions remains one of the most common complaints raised by employees, noting that many are unable to qualify for social security benefits because their employers fail to regularly remit the deductions collected from their salaries.
According to the lawmaker, the penalties under existing laws are no longer sufficient to discourage violations and should be strengthened to improve employer compliance.
Beyond the proposal on mandatory contributions, San Fernando also introduced measures aimed at strengthening workers’ rights and improving labor standards nationwide.
Among the bills are proposals to prohibit deceptive recruitment practices, particularly job advertisements that fail to disclose available positions or salary ranges, require employers to issue written employment contracts and regular pay slips, institutionalize mandatory labor rights orientation programs in workplaces, and extend the prescriptive periods for money claims and unfair labor practice cases under the Labor Code.
The labor advocate described the proposed measures as basic reforms designed to address long-standing concerns repeatedly raised by Filipino workers.
He also challenged the Marcos administration and Congress to prioritize the passage of the bills, saying their approval would demonstrate the government’s commitment to protecting labor rights.
San Fernando warned that failure to enact even these basic labor measures would send a negative message to workers that their concerns are not receiving sufficient attention from policymakers.
The party-list legislator likewise appealed to House leaders to include the measures among the chamber’s legislative priorities, expressing confidence that the proposals would not impose an unreasonable burden on employers because they merely reinforce fundamental obligations already required under existing labor laws.
He added that the legislative package was crafted after consultations with workers who have long complained about delayed benefit remittances, lack of employment documentation and other workplace issues affecting their security and welfare.
The proposed measures are expected to undergo committee deliberations in the House as lawmakers continue discussions on labor reforms aimed at strengthening worker protection while ensuring compliance with existing employment standards.
ia/xf
