RP, Japan to forge Social Security Agreement

TOKYO — The Philippines and Japan have agreed to convene immediately a joint working group that will draw up a bilateral Social Security Agreement (SSA) to facilitate convenient pension premium and benefit payments by and for both expatriate employers and employees, and further promote closer relations between the two countries.

The commitment by the two countries is part of a joint statement signed by President Arroyo and Prime Minister Taro Aso after their bilateral meeting Thursday night at the Kantei (Prime Minister?s Office) here.

?On the basis of such elements as the increase of human exchange between the two countries, both governments will hold a working group as soon as possible to examine the possibility of concluding a social security agreement,? the joint statement reads.

The Philippines’ Social Security System (SSS) has studied Japan’s SSA with the United Kingdom and has expressed interest in concluding a similar agreement with Japan.

In February 2000, the SSA between Japan and UK was signed primarily to avoid double liabilities on pension premium and benefit payments by and for expatriate employers and employees of both countries.

The possible conclusion of a social security agreement will benefit some 220,000 Filipinos that include nurses, caregivers and seafarers who live and work in Japan.

Likewise, the Philippines hosts many Japanese investments involving around 20,000 Japanese nationals who live in the country.

At present, a good number of members of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) and the SSS enjoy benefits granted to them under the RP-Canada and RP-Quebec Social Security Agreement and Supplementary Agreement.

The principal and supplementary agreements aim to ease the restrictions on the payment of social security benefits abroad and assist migrants in qualifying for certain benefits based on the length of time they have lived and worked in the Philippines and Canada.

The agreements also eliminated the irksome situation wherein a worker has to contribute at the same time to both social security programs of Canada and the Philippines for the same work. –PNA