PMAP AND ITS STAND ON SSS PENSION HIKE AND CONTRACTUALIZATION

Today, the labor sector is being challenged by changes in existing labor policies by the Duterte administration. Many initiated dialogue with the Philippine government regarding such concerns. One of them is a major employers organization that stood firm for its stand regarding labor issues, specifically SSS pension hike and contractualization; it is the People Management Association of the Philippines ( PMAP).

The six-decade-strong association held its first press conference last January 23 at The Lighthouse in Lopez Bldg., Meralco Compound to inform the public, the media and the government about their stand regarding important labor issues in the country today. The conference, followed by a roundtable discussion with the PMAP panel discussed issues on SSS pension hike, contractualization, employment issues and HR concerns.

“Though we agree with the Duterte administration in its passing of the SSS pension hike bill, we have proposals on its implementation. Regarding the SSS pension hike, as we have constant dialogues with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), we’ve submitted our stand on the issue as well as our recommendations,” began PMAP executive director Rene Gener, DPM.

“We agree with the P2,000 increase for SSS pensioners but we propose to not increase the contributions of existing SSS members to generate the fund. Rather, the SSS should make more effi cient its collection of employer’s remittances and collection of member’s credits and loans, and also manage their administrative fixed cost to be able to create the fund,” he continued.

During the conference, the complications surrounding the said pension hike and its effect on employers was also discussed. Increasing SSS members’ contribution would mean a smaller take- home pay, which in the future, might cause the labor force to demand an increase in salary from their respective employers. Additional costs for companies can result to cost cutting, hence laying-off employees to maintain a profitable business. PMAP petitions an implementation that will be pro-people and pro-business.

Meanwhile, regarding the issue of contractualization, Gener said that though the Philippine Constitution allows project- based employment, echoing PMAP’s stand, employers should provide government benefits such as SSS, PhilHealth and PAG-IBIG.

ADVANCING PROFESSION AND ASEAN INTEGRATION

Incoming PMAP president Ramon Segismundo, who will be inducted today together with other PMAP officers at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza, also laid out his platforms and future advocacies.

As a strong association of human resource and professionals who believes that people management is key to a more successful company, Segismundo will arrange initiatives and programs to ensure that Filipino talent is internationally competitive, specially at this time that the ASEAN integration is on the roll.

There are seven areas of mutual recognition of ASEAN professionals, which Filipinos are highly regarded, they are as follows: engineering, medical practice, land surveying, nursing, accounting, dentistry and architecture. Segismundo saw this as a great opportunity to improve the capabilities of the country’s professionals, in these fi elds.

“Anticipating the ASEAN integration, the country’s biggest assets would be its professionals. My prime advocacy is for PMAP to enhance the Filipino talent, to be competitive with our neighboring countries in the ASEAN. Second is to promote innovation, transformation and professionalism in the workplace. Third is for PMAP to be significant and influential voice of the HR community. And lastly, to put excellent people management a priority in companies,” Segismundo said.

“Organizational success is dependent on the excellence of its people. That’s why PMAP aims to conduct seminars, coaching, forums, conferences, and learning sessions to equip its 1,500 member companies with the knowledge and skills of excellent people management,” he added.

Having PMAP chapters in major cities in the country, the association remains relevant in discussions and dialogues regarding labor practices in the country. This leads to better profitability of companies, and helping to build a nation with a strong pool of competitive Filipino professionals.