Condoning Penalties On Delinquent Contributions

Social Security System (SSS) has in its Publication Section a good news for all delinquent employers. SSS issued a Condonation Program that waives penalties on unremitted or delinquent contributions due on or before February 1, 2010.   Employers can remit their unpaid contributions to the SSS in full or by installment along with the list of covered employees under the amnesty program. Employers who are delinquent in the payment of their contributions can apply for the Condonation Program until July 31, 2010. The six-month amnesty period will end on the said date but installment payments can run for 48 months. Details about the Condonation Program can be read in the Implementing rules and regulations of the Social Security Condonation Law of 2009.

Internet café owners and his employees are mandated by law to have SSS coverage. Some local government units (LGUs) require SSS clearance before a permit to operate is issued for both new and old business establishments, i-cafés included. While some i-café owners can get away with an SSS registration as self-employed even if they hire some people to help them in the business, it is always best that they have their employees covered by the state pension plan of SSS. It is for them and for their employees' benefits that they be secured by the social security insurance that SSS offers. Violating the SSS Law will get you nowhere and penalties are stiff for those who will get caught.

SSS has offered similar condonation programs in the past years and results were encouraging so they did it again this year. It is not very often that delinquent employers were given this kind of amnesty program so i-café owners are advised to take advantage of the terms of the condonation program.