State-run Social Security System (SSS) on Thursday conducted another Run After Contribution Evaders (RACE) program with more than 450 retail stores located at Farmers Plaza Mall in Quezon City.
SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel F. Dooc said the pension fund mapped 454 retail stores in the area and found out more than half of the retail stores were non-compliant to RA 8282 or Social Security Law of 1997.
“Of the total number of stores mapped here in Farmers Plaza, 70 belong to our Large Accounts Division while the remaining 384 were supervised by our branch operations. And of these stores being handled by our Cubao Branch, 260 were found to be non-registrant to SSS,” Dooc said.
Broken down, 73 retail store are regularly paying their employees’ SSS monthly contribution, 37 were intermittently paying, 8 were non-paying, 29 are non-registrant, 6 has no employees and the remaining 231 refused to be interviewed by SSS field officers.
Dooc said those who are non-paying, non-registrant and those who refused to be interviewed were given letters of notice to remind them of their obligation to pay their employees’ monthly SSS contributions.
Social Security Commission (SSC) Chairman Amado D. Valdez said that the conduct of RACE in Farmers Plaza is proof that SSS will continue to run after delinquent employers to fight for the rights of employees to social security protection.
“As you can see, this is our second operation after our activity in Greenhills Shopping Center last April. This is a reminder to all employers to be mindful of their obligations under the SS Law of 1997. We will hunt them down until they have given what is right and just for their respective employees,” Valdez said.
During the campaign, Dooc and Valdez issued Show Cause Orders to AGM Apoyon General Merchandise, Handtag Apparel Shop, HHMJ Fashion Collection and Rumble @Tum’s café due to non-registration for coverage despite receiving a demand letter from SSS last June 14.
A printed copy of the show cause order was posted on the store as a stern warning to employers that they are accountable if they fail to comply with their obligations.
Delinquent employers will be ordered to show cause within a non-extendible period of 15 days from posting, before the nearest SSS branch office to explain why no legal actions should be taken against them.
Valdez warned employers that they can be sentenced of up to 12 years imprisonment without probation, if convicted.
Valdez acknowledged the support of Farmer’s Plaza management, who’s in fact compliant to the SS Law as an employer, in ensuring SS compliance of their tenants.
In support of the RACE campaign and protection of SSS members, SSS also installed an information booth in Farmers Plaza Mall, which offered services on issuance of SS number, online verification of contributions and loans, inquiries on benefits and privileges, and distribution of informational materials. The SSS information booth was able to accommodate 251 persons during the campaign. ##