Dear Attorney,

I have been working as a contractual employee for over 20 years. Am I entitled to benefits such as SSS, Pag-IBIG, and PhilHealth even though I am not a regular employee? Thank you for your time and assistance.

Sincerely,
A Concerned Contractual Worker

Insights

In the Philippines, contractual employees, whether employed for a short or long period, are entitled to mandatory benefits, such as SSS, Pag-IBIG, and PhilHealth. The law mandates that employers provide these benefits to all employees, regardless of employment status. Below is a breakdown of each benefit entitlement:

Social Security System (SSS): The SSS provides retirement, disability, sickness, and death benefits. Both regular and contractual employees must be covered by the employer, who is responsible for deducting the employee's share of contributions and remitting it along with the employer's counterpart.
Pag-IBIG Fund: This benefit allows employees to avail of housing loans, savings, and provident fund benefits. Contractual employees are also entitled to Pag-IBIG benefits, and the employer is required to register them and ensure contributions are made.
PhilHealth: This provides health insurance coverage for hospitalizations, outpatient services, and other medical expenses. Even contractual employees must be registered under PhilHealth, with the employer sharing the responsibility of contributions.

The fact that you have been a contractual employee for 20 years suggests that you may want to look into the terms of your employment. Continuous contractual employment over such an extended period might raise questions about regularization and security of tenure, which could entitle you to more rights under the law.

In summary, all employees, whether regular or contractual, are entitled to these basic benefits as mandated by law. If you are not receiving them, your employer could be in violation of labor laws, and you may have grounds to file a complaint with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) or relevant agencies.