OFW SSS REPORT 2012

                 

Pension fund Social Security System (SSS) collected a total of P2.17 billion in contributions from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) last year, up 17% from P1.85 billion in 2010.

SSS President and CEO Emilio de Quiros Jr. said social security coverage of overseas workers is among the agency's top priorities, adding that they want to reach out to more OFWs through additional foreign offices and expansion of e-payment and online services.

"The SSS posted a double-digit growth in OFW collection for the third straight year. It reflects the growing awareness among overseas workers of the importance of active SSS membership and saving for retirement and other contingencies," he said.

The SSS has over 738,000 OFW members at present, which it aims to expand through tie-ups with key agencies handling deployment of migrant workers such as the Department of Labor and Employment and Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.

"OFWs are usually excluded from social protection programs in their country of employment, even if many of them work in high-risk environments and are considered family breadwinners. This further highlights the value of SSS," he said.

De Quiros said SSS has launched various programs to entice OFWs to become active members. One of these is the Member-Get-Member promo, which offers monthly raffle prizes and a travel package for two in the Grand Draw for successful referral of OFWs.

"More than 1,900 OFWs so far have registered through SSS branches and foreign offices, as well as via the SSS website at www.sss.gov.ph. One active participant has referred as many as 109 OFWs at present, and we are only in the third month of the promo," he said.

The SSS chief added that bilateral social security agreements between the Philippines and other countries are also underway. He said the agency wrapped up negotiations with Denmark and Portugal in 2011, and is preparing for initial talks with Japan this year. It is also eyeing other countries, including Australia, China, Cyprus, Germany and Sweden.

"By forging bilateral agreements with other nations, we also help overseas Filipinos become entitled to social security benefits comparable to those received by citizens of their host countries."

OFW GUIDE!

OFW- READ, THINK and REALIZE..........

Many Overseas Filipino Workers who work abroad for many years but are not successful and no investments were acquired by the time that they have already retired. 


The worst situation is that there are some OFWs who have been in an accident overseas which prevented them from working again. Regardless of working in or outside the Philippines, Filipino worker should know how to value his labor and sacrifices while aiming for his dreams.
The following tips are worth reading that will serve as guides for typical Overseas Filipino Workers.

1. Do not spend too much of your income. Not because you are earning big now and you have extra money, you are going to spend too much for your vices and unnecessary things. Think that job abroad is just temporary, anytime ou can be sent back home if some unpleasant situation happened such as war, bankruptcy, slow economy or as I have mentioned above, when they become paralyzed and couldn’t work anymore after an accident.


2. Always keep some income for savings. Save some of your income in Philippine banks as well as banks in the country where you work. And because you will stay abroad for about two years or more, it’s better that you’ll keep your money in a term of savings where you can earn more interest such as Time Deposit or Funds. Some Philippine banks offer special savings program for Overseas Filipino Workers and their beneficiaries. 


3. Obtain pension plans for retirement, savings fund, children's educational plan, health insurance or life insurance. Get more if you can, although you already have the OWWA Benefits or Social Security Insurance (SSS) or Pag-Ibig, it is also better to get another one from private insurance company.
It is not always safe to work anywhere, you will never know if you can have an accident in the future that will prevent you to engage in any kind of jobs again. Having some insurance is always a big help.


4. Once you start receiving your salary and suppose you have no debts to pay anymore, make sure you would invest in a property first. If you will buy some property, its’ value does not go down; it's always accumulating or increasing every year. House and Lot or Lot is the best investment of all.


5. If you want to build a house, unless you already got many houses, it is better to build an apartment first to have some additional income. Your wife/husband is in Philippines can take care of your property in case you want them to be a commercial or residential apartment for rent.
If you are earning from the rental of your apartment, you may now save your income and with some additional money from the last few years of working abroad, you can build a new house again for your family. 


6. Do not give so much allowance to your beneficiaries that could only make them spend your remittance for unnecessary things as well. You should let them know how hard it is to work in a foreign land and earn that money that you are sending for them. You should let them know how to spend wisely as well. 
Do not stay quiet or ashamed to tell and explain how hard it is to work as Overseas Filipino Workers abroad to your family. If they do not know about your real situation, they would just think that you are just "collecting" money while you're walking on the road. So, they would just spend your remittance on things that are unnecessary.


7. If you cannot bring your family while you are working abroad and your vacation is not yet due, why not try bringing them to your country of work. Sometimes, you need to spend a little to maintain the relationship and bonding of your family.


8. If you are on vacation, do not spend all your savings thinking that you still have a job in abroad upon returning there. It is not always like that. I have someone that I knew, who had bought brand new car, spent most of his savings while on vacation but by the time that this fellow overseas Filipino worker is now going back to work abroad, his employer's company suddenly closed. He did not know that the company was already failing and facing bankruptcy. 


9. Rather than spending too much of your savings on less important things, just improve your skills. You will never know that your current job will still be on demand after one or two years. You should try to be knowledgeable of other types of skills and profession. 
If you are a carpenter, acquire some skills that could help you to become a contractor just in case you want to have your own business and would like to get your own carpenter to do the jobs.


10. Do not start your own business if you do not have any idea about the business. Do not just listen with other people’s suggestions, think about it. It is not because having an Internet Cafe is one of the good businesses these days, you will engage yourself with that same business even you do not know anything about computers.
If you have an experience in carpentry jobs, start business that is related to carpentry such as cabinet making, construction materials retail, painting etc. Do not engage in other kinds of business unless you have also experienced it before. This is not the proper way to do business. Put up a business that you are familiar with and that you most love to do.

These would surely help OFW's to be successful

Living on OFWs' blood and sweat

A report on benefits of OWWA employees by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) showed that each employee receives nearly P100,000 monetary benefits annually.

In a report presented by the DBM to the members of the OWWA board of trustees, employees of OWWA are found to be receiving too much benefits compared to other government employees. Based on the study, each worker gets P20,000 anniversary bonus, P25,000 gift check, P8,000 medical insurance, P7,200 staple food allowance, uniform allowance amounting to P4,000, rice subsidy and 13th month pay. Apart from the financial benefits, OWWA workers are also getting other incentives such as longevity fee which is equivalent to one percent of the annual salary; productivity incentive worth P2,500; Program on Awards and Incentive Service Excellence (Praise).

Moreover, while most OFWs do not even receive a 13th month pay, OWWA employees are getting a 14th month and provident fund, more than what most other employees in the Philippines receive.

The study also led to the suspension of some of the benefits being enjoyed by the employees since these benefits were found to be illegal. Among the financial benefits suspended by the board of trustees include the P25,000 gift check, P7,200 staple food allowance, provident fund and the 14th month pay since the issuance of this monetary packages has no legal basis.
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****OPINION******
Actually, the POEA and OWWA might have functions that CATER to the SAME CLIENTELE (OFW's) but they have different functions.

POEA: More on EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS- negotiation with Host Countries; DOCUMENTS-PROCESSING of a Filipino who wants to become an OFW; and OVERSIGHT on all RECRUITMENT AGENCIES

OWWA: Directed more on OWWA-Member Benefits- Seminars; Trainings; Re-Integration Programs; Services and Benefits of OFW's who might have encounter HEALTH or who DIED abroad

Now, it would be better if both AGENCIES would be COMBINED in order to TRIM DOWN and STREAMLINE the BUREAUCRACY. Then again, how can people make MILKING COWS of Government Agencies if we make them EFFICIENT... he VOLUNTARY SYSTEM might be the ANSWER to a lot of COMPLAINTS when it comes to Membership Payments at OWWA. There are a lot of Filipino who COMPLAIN a lot- they don't want to pay DUES but they want to have BENEFITS which is plain ILLOGICAL...

For those who OPT to VOLUNTARILY PAY- they will be assured of the BENEFITS that they would get from OWWA
For those who OPT NOT TO PAY - they will receive nothing from OWWA

Besides, the OWWA should be made EFFICIENT and not BLOATED...

I think that would simplify things. As to the issue on why certain GOVERNMENT AGENCIES have a lot of PERKS - this is because it is being allowed and a lot of people BENEFIT FROM IT (especially the corrupt ones). I don't know what happened to the OVERSIGHT POWERS of Congress on the different Agencies - it might be the Senators and Congressmen are also benefiting DIRECTLY or INDIRECTLY by turning a blind eye.

There's a lot of Government Agencies which have Sky-High perks - the GSIS; the POEA; the OWWA; the BSP; the different GOCC's to name a few...