Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza (Party-list, TUCP) said under House Bill 2550, workers in wellness centers, beauty salons, fitness gyms and other interrelated services should be removed from the definition of self-employed under the SSS law.
Mendoza said barbershops, salons, spas, massage parlors, wellness or fitness centers or gyms, and any other similar entity to which the workers regularly report to render their services shall be considered their employers.
"Their employers should deduct and withhold from them the average monthly commissions, earnings, compensation or payment, as an employee's contribution to the SSS," Mendoza said.
Mendoza said the bill, which seeks to amend Republic Act 1161 or the Social Security Law, removes the workers from the definition of self-employed under the SSS law irrespective of the contractual arrangement or their non-recognition as employees.
"These workers would be able to continue being an active SSS member and reap the benefits while they are still working or upon their retirement," Mendoza said.
According to Mendoza, workers of wellness centers or of the barbershops, or any other similar entity, lease the facilities of the centers and bring their own set of clients.
Mendoza said the workers, who are being paid on a per-head basis, earn a commission or share in the payments due from their clients. They are not required to observe office hours or report to the company everyday, and do not devote their time exclusively for one company for they are free to work on any other wellness facility, or to engage in any other employment.
"Under the bill, these workers are considered self-employed, thus they pay their entire SSS membership dues, and there is no one to pay the heftier employer counterpart," Mendoza said.
"Irrespective of the contractual arrangement of their non-recognition as employees, or of the kind or source of the commissions, earnings, compensation or payment for their services, barbers, hairstylist, manicurists, make-up artists, masseuse, reflexologists, gym trainers, fitness instructors or dieticians shall not be considered as self-employed," Mendoza added. - Jazmin S. Camero, Media Relations Service-PRIB
