TESDA and SSS Seal Historic Partnership to Secure Social Protection for Thousands of Job Order and COS Workers

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A New Era of Hope and Inclusion Begins for the Unsung Workforce

In a landmark moment brimming with promise and resolve, two pillars of Philippine governance—the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Social Security System (SSS)—united in a formal pact that breathes life into a long-overdue social safeguard for some of the nation’s most underprotected laborers.

With the ceremonial stroke of a pen on April 22, 2025, at the TESDA Central Office in Taguig City, SSS President and CEO Robert Joseph Montes De Claro and TESDA Director General, Secretary Jose Francisco “Kiko” B. Benitez brought into reality a groundbreaking partnership under the KaSSSangga Collect Program, a government initiative focused on social protection inclusion.

This historic collaboration promises to deliver social security coverage to approximately 3,800 Job Order (JO) and Contract of Service (COS) workers currently serving in TESDA’s central and regional offices—workers who, for the longest time, have been left out of traditional government employment benefits due to the precarious nature of their contracts.

A Leap Toward Equity

For years, JO and COS workers have formed the backbone of public service operations, often bearing the same workloads and responsibilities as regular employees, yet receiving none of the protection that shields most government workers from life’s financial uncertainties. They are the invisible workforce—now finally seen.

With this partnership, TESDA’s JO and COS workers gain access to SSS’s comprehensive suite of benefits: sickness, maternity, disability, unemployment, retirement, death, funeral, and loan programs—crucial safety nets that recognize their dignity and contributions to nation-building.

“This is more than an agreement. It’s an act of justice. It’s our affirmation that every worker counts,” said Secretary Benitez in an emotionally charged address during the signing.

An Open Door for All

Even TESDA’s 4,300 regular employees are not left out of this forward-thinking endeavor. Under the new arrangement, they may enroll as voluntary SSS members, ensuring continuity of contributions they made prior to government service—either from private sector jobs or entrepreneurial ventures.

SSS President De Claro highlighted the program’s inclusivity, stating, “No one should fall through the cracks. This partnership ensures that even the most transient of government workers have access to the enduring protection of SSS.”

Behind the Acronyms: The Heart of KaSSSangga

The KaSSSangga Collect Program is designed to simplify the registration and remittance process for agencies and their JO/COS workers. With the issuance of an Agency Reference Number (ARN) to TESDA, contribution lists can be uploaded, generating Payment Reference Numbers (PRNs)—a digital convenience that streamlines transactions through SSS branches or accredited payment partners, online or over-the-counter.

This digital integration ensures efficiency, transparency, and accountability, fortifying the system’s resilience while empowering workers to easily monitor and maintain their contributions.

A Call to Action for All Government Institutions

The TESDA-SSS pact sets a bold precedent for other government agencies still navigating the grey areas of JO and COS employment. It sends an urgent message across the archipelago: that equity and empathy must guide labor policy, that no worker should be left behind in the shadows of bureaucracy.

This is more than just a policy—it’s a promise. A pledge that the government sees, values, and protects those who labor not for glory, but for purpose.

As the echoes of applause faded at the TESDA Central Office, one thing remained crystal clear: change has begun, and it wears the faces of those 3,800 workers who now walk with greater peace of mind and pride in their service.

For updates and detailed guidelines on the KaSSSangga Collect Program, workers are encouraged to visit sss.gov.ph or inquire through their local SSS and TESDA offices.

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