MANILA, Philippines — The Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives appealed for an investigation to be set on the reported losses incurred by the country’s social insurance agencies in their investments with Megawide Construction Corporation.

As mentioned in House Resolution 2397 filed by Bayan Muna representatives Carlos Zarate, Ferdinand Gaite, and Eufemia Cullamat, the total shares of the Social Security System (SSS) and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) with Megawide as of last year have accounted to 4.48% and 3.99%, respectively.

However, the resolution said that these investments suffered losses as widespread market shock brought by the COVID-19 pandemic has caused the share to plummet in 2020 and both agencies were not able to recover since then.

It added that “combining both GSIS and SSS losses, this would amount to a total combined loss of Php1,606,170,711.90

The lawmakers emphasized that “these staggering losses are truly lamentable if it will be considered for instance that SSS is yet to fulfill its commitment to Congress to implement the second tranche of Pph1,000 pension increase” for senior citizens.

The group also said that contributions of the elderly and workers were put in a predicament due to these losses.

“Di na nga naiibigay pa ng SSS ang P1,000 na dagdag sa SSS pension hike dapat ng mga seniors tapos ay inilalagay nila sa alanganin ang inihulog ng mga seniors at mga manggagawa,” Representative Carlos Zarate said.

This, he said, prompted them to call for an investigation by the proper committee in the Lower House.

“Sa ngayon dahil sa naluluging shares na binili nila sa Megawide. dapat talagang maimbestigahan ito ng Kongreso ngayon,” Zarate said. —/mbmf (from the report of UNTV Correspondent Nel Maribojoc)

MANILA, Philippines – Pinag-aaralan na ng tanggapan ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte ang apela ng ilang business at labor group na ipagpaliban ang pagtaas ng monthly contribution sa Social Security System (SSS).

Ayon kay Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, nakarating na sa Office the President ang kanilang hiling na maglabas ng executive order upang suspindihin muna ang buwanang umento sa SSS contribution upang makabawi muna ang mga negosyong naapektuhan ng pandemya.

“Mayroon na pong sinubmit na recommendation ang SSS pero titingnan po natin ang financial viability ng SSS at the same time, yung kahinaan ng negosyo at hanapbuhay sa gitna ng pandemiya. asahan po natin ang desisyon sa lalong mabilis na panahon,” ani Roque.

Sampung business at labor groups ang lumagda sa apela na isinumite sa tanggapan ni Pangulong Duterte.

Iginiit ng mga ito ang pagpapaliban sa SSS contribution hike sa ilalim ng Republic Act 11548 na nilagdaan noong buwan ng Mayo.

Sa ilalim ng batas, may otoridad ang pangulo na ipagpaliban ang nakatakdang pagtaas ng SSS premium contributions habang nasa ilalim ng state of calamity ang bansa dahil sa COVID-19 pandemic.

Noon pang Enero 2021 naging epektibo ang scheduled increase ng SSS monthly contribution mula 12 percent sa 13 percent.

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reiterates the rights of riders in food delivery and courier activities under the Labor Code of the Philippines or their contract with the digital platform company, depending on the existence of an employer-employee relationship.

In an advisory, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said all delivery riders who are considered employees of a digital platform company are entitled to the minimum benefits under the Labor Code.

Meanwhile, those who work as independent contractors or freelancers shall be governed by their respective contracts or agreements with the digital platform company.

DOLE issued the advisory in order to set the standards in determining work relationships between food delivery companies and their respective riders.

This employer-employee relationship between the delivery rider and the digital platform company, Bello said, may be determined in consideration of the flexibility of work which includes working time, control through technology, and use of the equipment and other inputs.

The advisory stated that all delivery riders who are deemed employees of the digital platform company shall enjoy the minimum standards and benefits which include: minimum wage, holiday pay, premium pay, overtime pay, night shift differential, service incentive leave, thirteenth-month pay, separation pay, and retirement pay.

They are also entitled to get occupational safety and health (OSH) standards, including SSS, PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG, and other benefits under existing laws.

Riders shall also enjoy the right to security of tenure, self-organization, and collective bargaining.

Meanwhile, riders who are considered independent contractors or freelancers shall be governed by their respective contracts or agreements with the digital platform company.

The contract or agreement shall stipulate the following provisions, including but not limited to:

• the payment of fair and equitable compensation, which shall not be lower than the prevailing minimum wage rates and facilitation of registration;
• coverage under SSS, PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG;
• compliance with applicable OSH standards;
• attendance to regular training and seminars on road and traffic rules and road safety. This shall be arranged by the digital platform company in coordination with relevant government agencies;
• arrangement with concerned local government units and/or merchants in setting up designated waiting areas for delivery riders

The Labor Advisory further states that any complaint or grievance of delivery riders or digital platform company shall be settled and resolved through conciliation, mediation, inspection, or arbitration, whichever is applicable, under existing rules and regulations.