The Philippines, with the Social Security System (SSS) taking the lead in its pursuit has now bilateral Social Security Agreements (SSAs) with Germany and Japan effective June 01 and August 01 of this year, respectively, ensuring the protection of social security rights for more than 230,000 Filipinos abroad.
SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel F. Dooc said that these bilateral SSAs, aimed at reducing or eliminating nationality- and territory-based restrictions on social security, will benefit an estimated 47,214 Filipinos in Germany and 182,917 Filipinos in Japan, who are working or residing permanently in these two countries.
SSAs promote the welfare of all persons covered under the social security programs of either or both countries for retirement, disability and death contingencies. Its guiding principles are embodied in the 1962 ILO Social Security Convention No. 118 on the Equality of Treatment and the 1982 ILO Social Security Convention No. 157 on the Maintenance of Social Security Rights. There are four salient features of an SSA namely: (1) equality of treatment, (2) export of benefits, (3) totalization of insurance periods, and (4) mutual administrative assistance.
“With the bilateral SSAs in place, Filipinos are now entitled to social security benefits under the same conditions applicable to nationals of Germany and Japan and we are looking forward to extend the same protection to more Filipinos working or residing abroad,” said Dooc.
Covered persons and their beneficiaries, through the provision on export of benefits of the SSA, can receive their social security benefits regardless of whether they decide to reside in the Philippines, in Germany, in Japan, or even in another country. (PIA-10)
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