OFWs alliance in Middle East opposes new SSS policy for rehires

In an open letter to President Rodrigo Duterte, members of the group raised their concerns about some of the provisions of Republic Act (RA)No. 11199.

According to them, the new law on SSS is not clear enough regarding their concerns.

An alliance of different groups of overseas Filipino workers in the Middle East has opposed new policies by the Social Security System involving rehires, including the mandatory 3-month premium contribution payment.

According to the group, the mandatory 3-month premium payment is imposed on rehired OFWs for the processing of their travel documents before returning to their job-sites.

“For rehires/returning workers/Balik-Manggagawa, SSS even wants to collect three months lump-sum contributions upfront. We strongly object to this move. It is a violation and impairment of our Constitutional right to travel,” the alliance said.

They said it did not elaborate on how the coverage will be implemented to OFWs who are already SSS members by virtue of having previously worked in the Philippines, currently on abroad when the new law became effective, or on those who have returned to the Philippines as workers on leave, among others.

“They (officials) do not provide the specific provisions as to how we may avail of the said benefits while we are still abroad, for example, the sickness benefit under Section 14 and the maternity leave benefit under Section 14-A of the new SSS law,” the alliance said.

Moreover, the group lamented the “pitifully small pension” benefit they get when they reach 60 years old, which the group said is not enough for the member’s maintenance medicine and subsistence after retirement.

It also opposed the increase in SSS contribution from 12 percent to 15 percent.

Section 36 of RA 8042 states, “Upon approval of this Act, all laws to the contrary notwithstanding, all fees being charged by any government office on migrant workers shall remain at the present levels.”