MANILA – The Social Security System (SSS) is asking Congress to allow it to impose an additional P30 to P48 in the contribution of its members to provide the benefits of female workers covered by the proposed 100-day expanded maternity leave.
SSS assistant vice president Maria Luisa Sebastian made the call in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB after the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading House Bill 4113, which also provides an option to extend maternity leave for an additional 30 days without pay.
According to Sebastian, an increase in members’ contributions is needed in order to lessen the impact of the provisions of the measure to the funds of the SSS.
“Kapag sinabi natin na pagtalaga ng pondo, isa ‘yun sa mga pinakita ng pag-aaral natin, ‘yung pagdagdag ng kontribusyon dito,” she said.
The bill states that a female SSS member who has paid at least three monthly contributions in the 12-month period preceding the semester of childbirth or miscarriage will be paid her maternity benefit.
This will be computed based on the average monthly salary credit, for 100 days, regardless whether the delivery was normal or cesarean and subject to conditions provided in the bill.
Sebastian is hoping lawmakers can find a way to put funds for this purpose, specifically an additional 0.3 percent in the current contribution of members.
“Thirty pesos ang katumbas na sana ay ilagay na doon sa batas na idagdag nila doon sa kontribusyon,” she said.
“So kung nagbabayad ng P1,100 ngayon sa ilalim ng P10,000 salary credit, magiging P1,130 ang magiging kontribusyon pero malaki ang magiging pakinabang ng mga tumatanggap ng maternity benefits,” she added.
For members who are earning P16,000, Sebastian said the SSS is asking for an additional P48 in their current contribution.
Sebastian pointed out that the current 0.4 percent share of the overall contribution intended to fund maternity benefits has not changed since 1978.
“Kung itataas ng 100 days, ‘yun ang pakiusap natin, sana isama sa batas na magkaroon din ng ganung provision. Kaya lang sa ngayon, hindi siya kasama e,” she said.
Apart from this provision, the measure states that female workers in the private sector availing of the maternity period and benefits should receive not less than two-thirds of their regular monthly wages and that employers are responsible for the salary differential between the actual cash benefits received from the SSS and their average weekly or regular wages, for the entire duration of the ordinary maternity leave subject to exceptions. (GMA News)
