SSS vows social security protection for seafarers
THE Social Security System (SSS) has assured all member-Filipino seafarers and maritime professionals of social security coverage as it joined other concerned sectors in forming the Maritime Industry Tripartite Council (MITC).With the newly created council, SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Rolando Macasaet vowed to look after the welfare of the seafarers and their families by providing them with financial aid for disability, sickness, maternity, unemployment, old age funeral and death.He urged all Filipino seafarers to become SSS members, underlining the significant benefits of having social security protection for themselves and their families.Macasaet hailed the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) led by Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac for spearheading the creation of the MITC.He believed that the council could help address maritime employment concerns and advance the protection of around 350,000 Filipino seafarers who are SSS members.Seafarers only need to pay at least 120 monthly SSS contributions to qualify for a lifetime monthly pension upon retirement."Contributing to the SSS is one way of investing in their future. Aside from retirement benefits, employed SSS members like seafarers are entitled to sickness, maternity, disability, unemployment, funeral and death benefits," he said.Also, member-seafarers can take advantage of various SSS loan programs, such as salary and calamity, and get additional coverage from the Employees' Compensation program for work-related sickness or injury resulting in disability or death."Seafarers can receive it as a lump sum if their contributions and investment income are less than P100,000. If it is P100,000 or more, they can receive it as a combination of lump sum and monthly pension or a fixed monthly annuity, which will be released together with their regular monthly pension," Macasaet said.Moreover, Macasaet said that members can contribute as little as P500 per payment whenever they want to receive this additional layer of social security protection.Under the MITC, the DMW will serve as its chairman, and the council will ensure the welfare and protection of seafarers.Other members from the government sector include the Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Health, Department of Transportation, Department of Information and Communications Technology, Commission on Higher Education, Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund), and National Telecommunications Commission.Groups representing the labor sector include the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, Associated Marine Officers' and Seamen's Union of the Philippines, and International Seamen's Mutual Labor Association, while the sector was represented by the Conference of Maritime Manning Agencies, Filipino Shipowners Association, Filipino Association for Mariners Employment Inc. and International Maritime Association of the Philippines, among others.
Tomas Kauer - Moderator 
THE Social Security System (SSS) has assured all member-Filipino seafarers and maritime professionals of social security coverage as it joined other concerned sectors in forming the Maritime Industry Tripartite Council (MITC).
With the newly created council, SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Rolando Macasaet vowed to look after the welfare of the seafarers and their families by providing them with financial aid for disability, sickness, maternity, unemployment, old age funeral and death.
He urged all Filipino seafarers to become SSS members, underlining the significant benefits of having social security protection for themselves and their families.
Macasaet hailed the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) led by Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac for spearheading the creation of the MITC.
He believed that the council could help address maritime employment concerns and advance the protection of around 350,000 Filipino seafarers who are SSS members.
Seafarers only need to pay at least 120 monthly SSS contributions to qualify for a lifetime monthly pension upon retirement.
"Contributing to the SSS is one way of investing in their future. Aside from retirement benefits, employed SSS members like seafarers are entitled to sickness, maternity, disability, unemployment, funeral and death benefits," he said.
Also, member-seafarers can take advantage of various SSS loan programs, such as salary and calamity, and get additional coverage from the Employees' Compensation program for work-related sickness or injury resulting in disability or death.
"Seafarers can receive it as a lump sum if their contributions and investment income are less than P100,000. If it is P100,000 or more, they can receive it as a combination of lump sum and monthly pension or a fixed monthly annuity, which will be released together with their regular monthly pension," Macasaet said.
Moreover, Macasaet said that members can contribute as little as P500 per payment whenever they want to receive this additional layer of social security protection.
Under the MITC, the DMW will serve as its chairman, and the council will ensure the welfare and protection of seafarers.
Other members from the government sector include the Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Health, Department of Transportation, Department of Information and Communications Technology, Commission on Higher Education, Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund), and National Telecommunications Commission.
Groups representing the labor sector include the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, Associated Marine Officers' and Seamen's Union of the Philippines, and International Seamen's Mutual Labor Association, while the sector was represented by the Conference of Maritime Manning Agencies, Filipino Shipowners Association, Filipino Association for Mariners Employment Inc. and International Maritime Association of the Philippines, among others.
