SSS chief urges partnership over premium hike cancellation

The head of the Social Security System (SSS) urged lawmakers and private individuals to partner with SSS rather than push for the cancellation of a premium hike, calling instead for subsidy agreements to cushion its impact.

SSS President Robert Joseph de Claro defended the scheduled increase in contributions mandated by Republic Act No. 11199, emphasizing that delaying or canceling it would affect millions of members.

De Claro highlighted that the additional PHP51 billion collected this year will fund various SSS services and calamity loans provided to affected areas.

Veteran labor rights advocate Neri Colmenares and former SSS chief Rolando Macasaet continue to call for a suspension of the hike due to its financial burden on workers.

Labor groups including Nagkaisa Labor Coalition and Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa also joined calls to suspend the increase, despite De Claro's pushback.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin defended the contribution hike as being well-studied by SSS actuaries and warned against politically motivated interference in SSS affairs.