The move was in line with the series of surprise inspections conducted by SSS legal and enforcement personnel on selected employers in the area as part of its Run After Contribution Evaders (Race) campaign.
Lawyer Renato Jacinto Cuisia, acting Vice President for Operations Legal Divisions I and II of the SSS central office, said the erring establishments mainly violated provisions of Republic Act 11199 or the Social Security Act of 2018.
He specifically cited the non-registration of businesses to SSS, non-remittance of employees’ premiums and under-reporting of employees.
Cuisia, who led the inspections, said these violations were earlier established and validated by their account officers.
The inspection team served the show cause orders, which were printed in tarpaulins, and posted them at the delinquent establishments.
“They have 15 days to make arrangements for the settlement of their contribution delinquencies and to comply with those required for their businesses,” Cuisia told reporters.
The erring establishments may avail of settlement schemes, depending on their financial condition, and the condonation program on penalty liabilities, which is offered by SSS until Sept. 1, he said.
He said SSS has the option to file charges against the concerned establishments should they ignore or fail to heed the show cause orders.
Under the law, he said erring employers may face imprisonment of up to 12 years and would be required to settle the delinquencies and corresponding penalties.
The Race campaign here was the second in Region 12 since its initial rollout in General Santos City in July last year.
Data released by the agency showed that of the 3,054 employers registered with SSS- Koronadal branch, only 504 were religiously paying the premiums of their workers.
Some 2,056 employers have pending delinquencies and 494 have not made any payments at all.
Cuisia said they have set more inspection and enforcement activities nationwide in the coming months to address these problems.
“We hope to deliver the message that SSS is serious in its campaign to go after erring employers and to champion the cause of the workers,” he added.
