The Social Security System (SSS) has signed an agreement with the local government unit (LGU) of Baguio City for the social security coverage of 525 job order (JO) and contract of service (COS) workers.

In a statement yesterday, the pension fund said its president and chief executive officer Rolando Macasaet and Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong inked a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on August 20 at the Baguio Convention and Cultural Center to ensure the social security coverage of the said workers of the City Government of Baguio under the KaSSSangga Collect Program.

Macasaet said SSS continues to provide social security protection to fellow workers in government who are not covered by the Government Service Insurance System such as JO and COS workers.

Under the agreement, JO and COS workers of the city government will have access to SSS coverage by becoming self-employed members.

Macasaet explained that as SSS members, these temporary government workers will become entitled to various SSS benefits in times of contingencies such as sickness, maternity, disability, retirement, funeral and death, as well as to qualify for SSS loan programs like salary and calamity loans.

He added that they will also get additional benefits from the Employees’ Compensation Program for work-related sickness, injuries and death.

Moreover, Macasaet urged them to enroll and invest in the voluntary MySSS Pension Booster to boost their retirement fund.

He explained that the Baguio City LGU shall collect the monthly SSS contributions of the JO and COS workers through a salary deduction scheme and remit it to SSS Baguio Branch. 

“The amount of monthly contribution that they shall pay will be based on their corresponding Monthly Salary Credit, which is the salary levels being used to determine the amount of contributions and benefits of a worker,” Macasaet said.

Currently, the minimum monthly contribution is P570 while the maximum amount is P4,230 per month, including contribution that of employees’ compensation.