Retail store gets SSS Balikat ng Bayan Award

DAVAO CITY, Sept. 21 (PIA) – The Social Security System of the Southern Mindanao Division recently honored a leading retail store of school and office supplies in the city for religiously complying with the obligations of an SSS employer-member to its employees.

SSS conferred the Top Employer Award on GH Office Depot during Friday’s 2015 SSS Balikat ng Bayan Awarding Ceremony at the Ritz Hotel in Davao City.

Emmanuel R. Palma, SSS assistant vice president for Southern Mindanao, said that GH Office Depot was selected as the sole regional awardee after being evaluated to have been outstanding in conforming to the rules and regulations of providing social protection to its employees.  

Palma said that among the requirements under the SSS rules are for the employers to report all employees for SSS coverage, whether permanent, casual and contractual, and to pay up to date contributions.

The awardee has also been fulfilling other SSS mandates such as advancing SS and Employees Compensation (EC) sickness benefits and maternity benefits due to his/her employees, he stated.

“There’s no better benefit to give to your employees than to provide social security protection. The workers are assured that they will have protection when they get old,” Palma said, urging employers to be responsible and be concerned to the welfare of their workers.

GH Office Depot manager Paul Go said they were very grateful for the award, adding “We are happy that we are part of the government’s program benefiting the employees.”

“From the start of our operations, we have been abiding by the mandates of the law,” stated GH Office Depot human resource officer Romeo Rivas, as he cited that the company is consciously and religiously paying monthly contributions to SSS.

According to its website, GH Office Depot started as a small office stationery dealer in 1967, and opened a supermarket-type of stationery store in 1995.

The retail outlet has continued to grow and expand, and is now serving not only walk-in clients but also big establishments from the private and government sectors, with 70 regular staff and workers at hand.

Meanwhile, SSS has also recognized Sun Star Davao and Skycable Davao as national SSS Balikat ng Bayan awardees for being the best media partners in the information dissemination of the SSS programs and activities. (PIA-XI/Carina L. Cayon)