GENERAL SANTOS CITY (PIA) -- Twelve business establishments in General Santos City were reminded of their legal obligations under the Social Security System (SSS) Law through a written order served by the South Mindanao 2 Division during the nationwide simultaneous Run After Contribution Evaders or RACE operations on Thursday, April 27, 2023.

According to SSS Vice President for Mindanao South II Division Redentor Viola, eight establishments did not pay their SSS contributions, six did not register their employees’ accounts, and around P4 million were not paid to SSS by these delinquent businesses.

They were ordered to comply in the next 15 days.

Viola said these operations were necessary to help business establishments learn the process of having their employees duly registered with SSS and paying for their monthly contributions either through online or over-the-counter. In this way, he said they will not violate the SSS law and avoid any legal consequence in fine or imprisonment of six to 12 years.

Under Republic Act 11199 or the “Social Security Act of 2018,” it is the employer’s obligation to register all their employees with SSS for life insurance coverage and collect from the employees' salaries their share of monthly contribution.

He explained that by educating business owners and employees about the importance of contributing to SSS, they will easily realize that SSS is their partner in making sure that they are protected and secured under the law to receive insurance benefits such as sickness, maternity, disability, retirement, death and funeral, including salary and calamity loans that they can benefit in times of financial distress.

In addition, Viola said that business owners who have trouble paying their SSS contributions may avail of the Contribution Penalty Condonation Program, which offers flexible payment terms, either through one-time payment or installment scheme.

Aside from Gensan, the RACE operations on Thursday were also simultaneously conducted in the cities of Koronadal and Cotabato. On Friday, April 28 another RACE operations were held by Gensan-Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan, and Cotabato branches in remiss business establishments in their respective areas of responsibility, said SSS Gensan communications officer Noel Nacion. (Harlem Jude Ferolino, PIA SarGen)