QUEZON CITY (22 March 2026) – The Social Security System (SSS) urged household employers to register their kasambahay or household helpers with the SSS to ensure they are covered by the country’s social security protection program, as it launched a Kasambahay Caravan on March 22, 2026, at 43 sites across Metro Manila and Rizal.
SSS president and CEO Robert Joseph M. de Claro emphasized that the Kasambahay Caravan is a key SSS initiative to extend protection to this often‑overlooked group of workers.
“Household helpers keep our homes running smoothly but often lack emergency protection,” de Claro said. “This initiative ensures every kasambahay can access SSS benefits such as sickness, maternity, disability, unemployment, retirement, funeral, and death.”
De Claro added that registered kasambahay can also apply for SSS loan programs, including salary loans and calamity loans. “They will also get additional protection from the Employees’ Compensation (EC) Program for work‑related sickness, disability, or death,” he said.
Speaking at the kickoff event held at SM City Marikina on March 22, 2026, SSS NCR Operations Group acting senior vice president Benjamin Dolindo Jr. said the drive aims to strengthen social security coverage for a sector that plays a vital role in family life.
“Social security coverage for the sector that is truly important in our homes is a shared responsibility,” Dolindo said. “May we continue fulfilling our responsibility to ensure that every house helper is registered and protected.”
The Kasambahay Caravan is part of a broader campaign to bring SSS registration and membership services closer to household workers and their employers, many of whom are still not formally enrolled.
At the event, SSS provided on‑site services such as SSS registration for kasambahay and household employers, issuance of SSS numbers and member data change requests, online services assistance, such as My.SSS registration, password resetting, generation of Payment Reference Numbers (PRNs), loan and benefit application, and orientation on benefits, coverage, and registration responsibilities.
Under Republic Act No. 11199 or the Social Security Act of 2018, employers are required to register their household helpers within 30 days of hiring and remit their contributions.
For kasambahay earning ₱5,000 or more per month, household employers deduct the employee’s share from the salary, add their own contribution, and pay via accredited channels. For those earning ₱5,000 or less, employers fully cover the contributions.
SM City Marikina Mall Manager Francis Brian Cruz welcomed the partnership, saying the mall is committed to supporting community‑driven programs that promote social protection.
“We are honored to partner with SSS in bringing essential services near to our community and most especially to our kasambahay who play an important role in our homes and our daily lives,” Cruz said.
Social Security Commissioner Eva Arcos, who also attended the launch, stressed that social security should be viewed as a long‑term investment in workers’ well‑being.
“We should look at social security as an investment rather than an expense,” Arcos said. “For every employer who registers their kasambahay, they are not only paying a contribution but also securing a safety net for a worker who helps run their household.”
The SSS plans to expand the Kasambahay Caravan in other areas with the goal of closing coverage gaps among household workers and ensuring they receive the same basic protections as other formal‑sector employees.
