Former Bayan Muna Congressman Neri Colmenares strongly condemned the Social Security System’s (SSS) implementation of higher contribution rates, calling it an additional burden to workers already struggling with multiple price increases at the start of 2024.
“This SSS contribution hike is absolutely unconscionable. Workers are already dealing with increased water rates from both Maynilad and Manila Water, higher electricity rates from Meralco, and now they have to shoulder bigger SSS contributions,” Colmenares said.
The veteran labor rights advocate who authored the P2000 SSS pension increase in 2016, pointed out that the promised P1,000 pension increase under the Duterte administration has not been fully delivered, yet the automatic contribution increase was swiftly implemented.
“Ang kapal ng mukha ng SSS na magtaas ng contribution rate habang hindi pa nga naibibigay ang pangakong dagdag-pensyon. Para sa SSS board, mas mahalaga pa ang fund life ng SSS at ang matataas nilang sahod at perks kaysa sa buhay ng mga miyembro nito na pinanggagalingan naman ng pondo ng ahensya. SSS is just like Philhealth which is obsessed with its funds rather than the benefits of members” he emphasized.
Colmenares called for the immediate suspension of the new SSS contribution rates, citing the agency’s failure to improve its collection efficiency.
“The SSS has not even explained its current collection rate. Why impose new rates when they can’t even efficiently collect the old ones? The new rates must be suspended until SSS has demonstrated improved collection efficiency,” Colmenares insisted.
The SSS contribution rate increased to 15% from 14% effective January 1, 2025, affecting private sector employees, household workers, self-employed individuals, voluntary members, and land-based OFWs.
“This is a classic case of passing the burden to ordinary workers while failing to address fundamental issues in collection and management. The SSS should focus first on improving its collection efficiency and reducing unnecessary expenses before implementing any rate increases,” Colmenares concluded.#
