DAVAO CITY – Kilusang Mayo Uno urged the government to sign a bill that seeks to increase by P2,000 the pension of members of Social Security System before Christmas.
The labor group said the ball is now in the chief executive’s court after Congress approved House Bill 5842 filed by Bayan Muna Representative Neri Colmenares in June and the Senate approved the bill in November.
In a protest action in Mendiola on Tuesday, the workers carried Christmas lanterns with the calls “Sigaw ng obrero: SSS pension hike ngayong Pasko!” (Workers call: SSS pension hike for Christmas!).
Roger Soluta, KMU vice chairperson said the bill’s approval would be “a most welcome Yuletide gift to pensioners”.
“We demand that Aquino sign the SSS pension hike bill now as a Christmas gift to the country’s pensioners. That’s the least he could do at this point, because the pension hike is long overdue,” said Roger Soluta, KMU vice-chairperson.
Soluta said the president’s approval of the bill before the year ends should be made earlier.
“What better time to approve the SSS pension hike than now? Our retirees and their families badly need more food, more medicines, and a little recognition for their many years of work and faithful contribution to the SSS,” Soluta added. He said SSS has funds for the pension hike.
“It will have more than enough funds if it improves its collection efficiency, goes after employers who refuse to remit workers’ contributions, reduces huge bonuses to board members, and reduces administrative costs,” he said. (davaotoday.com)
