The Social Security System (SSS) warned all delinquent member-employers to strictly comply with Republic Act 8282 or the Social Security Act of 1997 by religiously paying the contributions and salary loan payments of their employees and remit them to SSS.

SSS Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Counsel Voltaire P. Agas issued the warning after 14 employers were convicted for violating RA 8282.

These cases were sourced from 2012-2014 records in various Regional Trial Courts (RTCs) nationwide for non-remittance of premium contributions with incurred penalties amounting to P20.2M.

“We would like to inform the public, especially the employers, that we are seriously and aggressively pursuing cases against erring employers to protect our SSS members from such violations that prevent them from enjoying the full SSS benefits due them,” Agas said.

Under Section 28(e) of the Penal Clause of RA 8282, failure or refusal of an employer to register their employees, or to deduct contributions from the employee’s compensation and remit the same to the SSS, corresponds to a penalty of fine from P5,000 to P20,000 and imprisonment from six (6) years to twelve (12) years.

Based on the latest report submitted by lawyer Renato Jacinto S. Cuisia, Head of the Operations Legal Department, the latest conviction was meted out by RTC Branch 66 Presiding Judge Victor O. Concepcion last December 22, 2014.

Convicted was Fred Ventura, Operations Manager of Guardsman Security Agency and Detection Group in San Fernando City, La Union for unpaid premiums of its employees from September 2010 to March 2011.