MANILA — Social Security System (SSS) President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel Dooc is hoping that before the extended maternity leave bill is fully enacted, legislators will likewise allow the increase in contribution rates to safeguard the agency’s actuarial life.
To date, SSS’ actuarial life is until 2032
Last August 28, the House of Representatives approved on second reading House Bill (HB) No. 4113, which is aimed at increasing the maternity leave from 60 days to 100 days with pay, with an option to extend it by another 30 days without pay.
In March 2017, the Senate approved on third and final reading a paid maternity leave of 120 days and paid 30 days paternity leave.
Once these measures are signed into law, Dooc said SSS’ maternity benefit expenses will increase by around PHP4 billion from the current PHP6 billion.
Dooc said they have submitted a position paper on the issue, asking lawmakers to identify source of funding for this additional benefit.
“So we hope that the authorities will also be open-minded to recognize that all these additional benefits will have serious implications to our finances. So they should also be open to increasing the contribution rate. We are not asking for a subsidy yet. So increase the rate so we can also provide more benefits,” he said.
There is a pending bill in the Senate for a change in SSS’ charter, which will allow the agency to have a say on contribution and benefit hikes, condone penalties and rationalize investments, among others.
Dooc is hopeful that this will be approved to give the agency, which provides social security to workers in the private sector, greater leeway in its finances. ( Joann Villanueva/PNA)
