MANILA – The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines asked its representative to the Social Security System, Commissioner Dr. Marianita Mendoza to do the right thing by returning the controversial bonus given to her as soon as possible, TUCP spokesman Alan Tanjusay said.
In April, Social Security System officials sought the TUCP and other groups in convincing 12 million members to accept an increased SSS monthly premium payment from 10.4% to 11% starting January next year.
The TUCP gave its support to the plan because it will help improve the life span of the SSS fund and raise the membership benefits, a 10% across-the-board increase in pension rate among retirees, improve active members’ access to claims, and run after delinquent employers who failed to remit employees’ contribution.
It also supported the proposed increase provided that more workers can be covered, collection rate should be improved, make operations more efficient and transparent, investments must not only yield but also be safe, and keep SSS salaries and benefits reasonable, not excessive.
The giving of such bonuses, however, was not discussed in any of the consultation process.
The TUCP maintains that while the giving of performance bonus may be legally justifiable by the performance incentives system set by the Governance Commission for Government–owned and controlled corporation, it deems the giving of monetary incentive at this time as inappropriate.
The TUCP finds it insensitive for SSS officials to give themselves monetary incentives at a time they said the SSS fund is shrinking and that the SSS actuarial fund is only good until 2039.
All eight SSS Board of Directors have received over P10 million in bonus and its members around P276 million – a little over one percent of their salary.
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