BIR, SSS release guidelines for wage subsidy program

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Social Security System (SSS) have released guidelines for the Small Business Wage Subsidy (SBWS) program, providing financial support to 3.4 million workers of small businesses affected by the enhanced community quarantine.

The financial assistance is limited to employees who have not received their pay for more than two weeks.

Unlike initially stated, employees who already received cash assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment's (DOLE's) COVID Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP) can still be included in the SBWS program, but will only receive one month's worth of subsidy.

Workers must be registered with the BIR and SSS to be qualified for the program, with employers needing to secure a BIR certification for their eligible employees.

Employers are instructed to visit the SSS website for application processing and direct fund release to employee bank accounts.

Employees are expected to receive between P5,000 to P8,000 each, covering two months, with the government shouldering all service expenses for fund transfers.

The SBWS program is funded by P51 billion in contributions from various government agencies.

Employees receiving assistance under the SBWS program cannot be terminated by their employer nor can they resign during the ECQ period.