The Social Security System (SSS) has filed court charges against 1,623 employers primarily for failing to remit their employees' contributions to the pension fund manager last year.

In a statement, SSS President and CEO Romulo Neri said these companies have violated provisions of Republic Act 8282 or the Social Security Act of 1997 for non-remittance of contributions, failure to register, and refusal to present employment records to SSS account offices.

"(More than 200 employers were charged for failing to register and refusing to present employment records to SSS) The rest of the cases were for non-remittance of contributions, which remains as the most common violation among employers. Because of this, members cannot avail of SSS benefits and loans during times of need," he said.

According to Section 22 of the Social Security Act of 1997, contributions remitted to the SSS should be made within the first 10 days of the following month.

"If any contribution is not paid to the SSS as herein prescribed, he shall pay besides the contribution a penalty thereon of 3 percent per month from the date the contribution falls due until paid," the law said.

Meanwhile, Neri said that SSS managed to collect P796.8 million in overdue contributions from delinquent employers last year.