Poe bill seeks ‘out-of-job pay’ for unemployed SSS members

By: Maila Ager - 8 years ago

Senator Grace Poe. PHOTO FROM SENATOR POE’S OFFICE

Workers who suddenly lost their jobs could still receive a so-called “out-of-job pay” from the Social Security System (SSS) if a bill filed by Senator Grace Poe is passed into law.

Poe said she filed Senate Bill No. 1036 that seeks to expand SSS benefits to include immediate economic relief for workers who suffer from the setback of involuntary unemployment.

This income support program, she said, was designed so “workers can still put food on the table for their children while they get back on their feet and find more stable sources of income.”

“Job generation is key to addressing unemployment, but we must not turn our backs on those who are desperately seeking for jobs at these difficult times,” the senator said in a statement on Friday.

Under the bill, employees involuntarily separated from service would receive monthly cash payments commensurate to their contributions.

SSS members with contributions of six months to two years would receive one month compensation; two months pay for those who have contributed for up to two years; three months relief for those with contributions of four to six years; four months compensation for those with six to 11 years contributions; and a maximum five-month temporary pay for those who have contributed for 11 to 15 years.

Poe said the compensation could also be used for retraining and acquiring necessary skill sets in view of prospective opportunities or employment.

“Hindi ba nararapat lamang na itawid natin ang ating mga kababayang biglang nawalan ng trabaho nang hindi nila inaasahan? Hindi natin sila dapat pabayaang patuloy na malugmok sa kawalang pag-asa at tulungan natin silang bumangon sa pinakamabilis na paraan,” she said.

(Isn’t it only right for us to aid our countrymen who are suddenly unemployed? We should not let them completely lose hope and we should help them to rise again in the quickest possible manner.)

The senator, citing the records of the Philippine Statistics Authority, noted that some 2.6 Filipinos are unemployed as of April, 2016. CDG/rga