TRO sought vs SSS fee hike

The Supreme Court building in Manila. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Militant labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) on Friday filed in the Supreme Court a petition for a temporary restraining order against the recently implemented 0.6-percent increase in Social Security System (SSS) members’ premium contributions.

“Workers are determined to stop the implementation of the SSS premium hike. It is an unjust burden imposed by the Aquino administration that will further squeeze our pockets dry to fill the pockets of big capitalists and corrupt bureaucrats,” said KMU secretary general Roger Soluta.

Soluta said bigger and bolder protests should be expected if the government persists in implementing the hike.

“We are hoping that the high court would heed workers’ and the people’s demand to stop the SSS premium hike. It would be better if the Supreme Court issues a permanent injunction. We assure the Aquino administration that protests will continue and more workers and people would take to the streets until the hike is permanently junked,” Soluta said.

The increase of SSS contributions scheduled to start this month will increase to 11 percent from 10.4 percent last year.

This, according to the KMU, means minimum wage earners would have to pay at least P25 more on premium contributions per month.

The KMU said the SSS premium hike would not improve the benefits of the members, contrary to the agency’s claims.

“It may simply go to the pockets of big capitalists in the form of start-up capital for projects under the government’s public-private partnership program,” he said.

In their petition, Soluta said the agency has more than enough funds contrary to its claim that the increase in premium contributions is needed for reserve funds.

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