Bayan Muna Party-list has expressed its appreciation to the Supreme Court (SC) for its decision to declare as unconstitutional the Social Security System (SSS)'s requirement for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to pay their contribution in advance.

Former Bayan Muna Party-list Reps. Carlos Zarate and Neri Colmenares, who filed the petition in 2019 along with labor group Migrante, said that the High Court's move was "a crucial step towards ensuring the social protection and welfare of our modern-day heroes who contribute significantly to our economy".

"We welcome the Supreme Court's decision striking out the assailed IRR for violating the constitutional rights to due process and the right to travel of our OFWs," they said.

SC struck down an SSS provision that prohibits OFWs from travelling abroad for work unless they pay three months in advance their SSS premiums. 

"Bayan Muna has consistently opposed the provisions that impose unfair burdens on our OFWs, particularly the requirement for them to pay the 'employer's share' in the SSS contribution, which foreign employers are not obligated to cover," they said.

"This places an unjust financial burden on our OFWs who are already sacrificing so much for their families and our nation," they added.

Zarate called on the public to continue advocating and supporting OFWs, as Colmenares also believed in the importance of protecting their rights and dignities.

"OFWs deserve fair treatment and respect for their invaluable contributions to our country. The Supreme Court's ruling was a victory," Colmenares said.