Philippine SS System reaches out to OFWs
The Philippines’ Social Security System has introduced a program aimed at providing overseas Filipino workers the opportunity to avoid interruption in their existing membership with the government-owned financial institution.
At the same time, the new program allows Filipinos who wish to be part of the system and who are currently not holding Philippine SSS number to apply for voluntary membership.
Filipinos here, CNMI being among OFW-host countries where there are no SSS representatives yet, are encouraged to apply by writing to the SSS main office in East Avenue, Diliman Quezon City.
Application is open to all Filipinos working abroad, below 60 years old, currently not member of SSS or whose memberships were interrupted by separation from previous employers.
SSS representatives have already been deployed at the Philippine Embassies in Riyadh and Rome, and the Consulates General in Hong Kong and Jeddah to receive and process applications of OFWs.
There are also SSS centers in Taipei and Kaoshiung in Taiwan. Negotiations are now underway for the installation of a center in the Northern Marianas and other areas.
SSS members are entitled to: (1) sickness, maternity, disability, retirement, death or funeral benefits; (2) 13th month and dependent’s pension; (3) salary, Y2L conversion training, calamity, housing and business loans.
The SSS is said to be the first organization in the world to use the automated fingerprint system for member’s identification for large-scale application.
This biometrics ID system, which also includes photo and signature, has security features against tampering and forgery to help eliminate fraudulent transactions and speed up member’s transactions on benefits and loans.
Launched in 1998, the new ID system is being issued to the System’s 36 million embers in the Philippines, and works are now underway to issue the ID to members in Hong Kong and other countries. (ARF)
