Public servants who have completed at least nine years in government may soon be allowed to voluntarily continue contributing to the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) to qualify for retirement benefits.
This is the aim of a bill filed by Sen. Panfilo Lacson, which seeks to amend the GSIS Act of 1997 (RA 8291).
The measure would allow those who leave government before completing the required 15 years of service to continue paying contributions until they qualify for full GSIS retirement packages.
“(I)t is the aim of this proposed measure to allow voluntary membership to members who have rendered at least nine (9) years of service in the government, and to allow them to continue paying for the remaining contributions needed for entitlement to GSIS retirement packages,” Lacson said in his bill titled “An Act Providing for Voluntary Membership in the GSIS, Amending for the Purpose RA 8291 Otherwise Known as the GSIS Act of 1997.”
He said the move aligns GSIS policy with that of the Social Security System (SSS), promoting fairness for workers who transition between public and private sectors.
Under current law, only those with at least 15 years of government service are eligible for GSIS retirement. As a result, many early leavers are left with little or no protection, Lacson noted.
The bill proposes adding a provision allowing any GSIS member with at least nine years of service to continue contributions voluntarily, covering both the government and employee shares, until reaching the equivalent of 15 years.
It also amends existing provisions to ensure that separated members remain entitled to any benefits they’ve qualified for and may opt for voluntary membership to complete their retirement eligibility.
Retirement benefits will be granted once the member has completed 15 years of service or its equivalent through continued voluntary contributions.IMT
