SSS inks agreement with Baguio City LGU for social security coverage of JO & COS workers

SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Rolando Ledesma Macasaet (3rd from left) and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong (4th from left) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on August 20 at Baguio Convention and Cultural Center that will ensure the social security coverage of 525 job order (JO) and contract of service (COS) workers of the City Government of Baguio under the SSS’ flagship program — KaSSSangga Collect Program (KCP).

SSS and city government officials who witnessed the MOA signing are (from left) SSS Senior Vice President for Luzon Operations Group Antonio S. Argabioso, SSS Executive Vice President for Branch Operations Sector Voltaire P. Agas, Baguio City Accountant Fredda Jimenez and Baguio City Assistant Human Resource Management Officer Edith Dawaten.

Macasaet said that SSS continues to provide social security protection to fellow workers in government who are not covered by the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) such as JO and COS workers.

Under the agreement, JO and COS workers of the city government will have access to SSS coverage by becoming self-employed members.

Macasaet explained that as SSS members, these temporary government workers would become entitled to various SSS benefits in times of contingencies such as sickness, maternity, disability, retirement, funeral, and death, as well as to qualify for SSS loan programs like salary and calamity loans.

He added that they would also get additional benefits from the Employees’ Compensation (EC) Program for work-related sickness, injuries, and death.

Moreover, Macasaet urged them to enroll and invest in the voluntary MySSS Pension Booster to boost their retirement fund.

He explained that the Baguio City LGU shall collect the monthly SSS contributions of the JO and COS workers through a salary deduction scheme and remit it to the SSS Baguio Branch. “The amount of monthly contribution that they shall pay will be based on their corresponding Monthly Salary Credit, which is the salary levels being used to determine the amount of contributions and benefits of a worker.”

Currently, the minimum monthly contribution is PHP570 while the maximum amount is PHP4,230 per month, including SSS, EC and Mandatory MySSS Pension Booster contributions.