The Social Security System (SSS) has recently signed a significant memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Angkas, a popular motorcycle hailing application in the Philippines. This partnership aims to extend social security benefits to approximately 50,000 Filipino Angkas partner bikers, providing them with essential protections and support.
Challenges Faced by Angkas Riders
Prior to the landmark agreement between the Social Security System (SSS) and Angkas, Angkas riders, like many gig workers, faced significant challenges due to the nature of their employment, including:
- Financial Insecurity: Angkas riders, like many gig workers, often struggled to meet basic income needs due to the expenses associated with their work, such as gas, vehicle maintenance, and mobile data. This financial strain was further exacerbated by the absence of traditional employment benefits such as health insurance, paid leave, and retirement plans. This lack of financial security left riders vulnerable to unexpected expenses and economic instability.
- Job Safety: Riders faced significant risks on the road, working in conditions that often lacked adequate protection. The nature of their job made them susceptible to accidents and injuries, yet they did not have access to comprehensive health coverage or compensation benefits to mitigate these risks. This lack of safety nets left them exposed to the financial and physical repercussions of job-related hazards.
- Lack of Representation: Unlike traditional employees, gig workers typically did not have collective bargaining rights or formal representation. This made it difficult for Angkas riders to negotiate better working conditions and pay. Without a unified voice, they had limited power to advocate for improvements in their employment terms and protections.
The Agreement: Extending Coverage to Angkas Bikers
Coverage and Classification
Under the new agreement, Angkas partner bikers in Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, and Cagayan de Oro will be classified as self-employed members of the SSS. This classification entitles them to a wide range of social security benefits, including sickness, maternity, disability, retirement, funeral, and death benefits. Additionally, they will receive coverage from the Employees’ Compensation (EC) program for work-related sickness, disability, and death. This comprehensive coverage is important, given the high-risk nature of their profession.
Contribution Collection
Angkas will serve as an authorized Coverage and Collection Partner of the SSS. This means that Angkas will collect the monthly contributions from its active partner bikers and remit them to the SSS. This streamlined process maintains that contributions are collected efficiently and bikers remain consistently covered.
Contribution Rates
The current SSS contribution rate stands at 14%, based on a monthly contribution range of P4,000 to P30,000 for self-employed members. The minimum monthly contribution is P570, while the maximum is P4,230. For instance, an Angkas partner biker earning P13,000 monthly will have a combined SSS and EC monthly contribution payment of P1,830. This structured contribution system helps bikers manage their finances while securing their future.
Benefits for Angkas Partner Bikers
Comprehensive Social Security
By becoming SSS members, Angkas bikers gain access to a variety of social security benefits. These benefits are designed to provide financial support during times of need, such as sickness, maternity, disability, retirement, funeral expenses, and in the event of death. This coverage sees to it that bikers and their families are protected against unforeseen circumstances that could lead to financial hardship.
Employees’ Compensation Program
In addition to the standard SSS benefits, Angkas bikers are also covered by the Employees’ Compensation program. This program provides additional protection for work-related incidents, offering financial support for sickness, disability, and death resulting from their job. Given the inherent risks associated with motorcycle riding, this extra layer of protection is particularly valuable.
Access to Loan Programs
SSS members, including Angkas bikers, can also avail themselves of various loan programs. These include salary loans and calamity loans, which can provide essential financial relief in times of need. Access to these loans can help bikers manage their finances more effectively and deal with emergencies or unexpected expenses.
The Importance of Social Security for High-Risk Professions
Addressing the Risks
Motorcycle riding, especially in urban settings, is a high-risk profession. Bikers spend a significant amount of time on the road, exposed to various hazards that can lead to accidents and injuries. Given these risks, it is necessary for Angkas bikers to have robust social security coverage. This coverage provides a safety net, so that they have financial support in case of emergencies.
Promoting Social Justice
The mandate of the SSS is to promote social justice and provide protection to its members. By extending coverage to Angkas bikers, the SSS is fulfilling this mandate, so that even those in high-risk, low-income professions have access to essential social security benefits. This move supports social equity by providing protections that help reduce financial disparities and support the welfare of all workers, regardless of their profession.
Long-Term Financial Security
For many bikers, the income earned from their work is their primary or sole source of financial support. By contributing to the SSS, they are investing in their long-term financial security. The benefits they receive, such as retirement and disability benefits, provide a financial cushion that can support them in their later years or if they are unable to work due to disability.
Recent Updates
SSS and Angkas Partnership Event
The Social Security System (SSS) has partnered with Angkas through a Memorandum of Agreement to provide self-employed coverage to its riders. Angkas Co-founder and CEO George Royeca supports the SSS’s goal of promoting financial preparedness among young workers. SSS President and CEO Rolando Ledesma Macasaet addressed riders’ queries about membership reinstatement and detailed the benefits and programs available to them as SSS members. This collaboration aims to enhance social security coverage and support for Angkas riders, emphasizing the importance of financial security for all self-employed individuals.
Video: Nasa 50K Angkas riders, miyembro na ng SSS
Approximately 50,000 Angkas riders have now become members of the Social Security System (SSS), providing access to benefits and social security protection. This significant development enhances the welfare and security of Angkas riders across the country. By joining the SSS, Angkas riders can avail themselves of various social security benefits and provisions. The inclusion of Angkas riders in the SSS membership underscores a proactive step towards safeguarding their well-being and livelihood. This reflects a positive move towards enhancing the social security coverage for gig workers in the Philippines.
Conclusion
The partnership between the Social Security System and Angkas marks a significant step forward in promoting social justice and protecting high-risk workers in the Philippines. By providing comprehensive social security coverage to Angkas bikers, the SSS is ascertaining that these workers have the financial support they need in times of sickness, disability, maternity, retirement, and other contingencies. This agreement not only enhances the welfare of the bikers but also underscores the importance of inclusive social security systems that cater to the needs of all workers, particularly those in high-risk professions.