KOROR (Palau Horizon) — A group of Filipino workers has filed a civil suit against the Social Security Administration to contest the existing law that disallows foreign nationals to claim their retirement benefits once they leave Palau.
In a four-page complaint, the plaintiffs led by Olimpio Griarte said SSA violated their constitutional rights by denying their retirement benefits.
Current law states that foreign nationals are not entitled to receive retirement benefits if they reside outside Palau in excess of six months.
Foreign nationals are also not entitled to reside in Palau unless they are employed.
The plaintiffs are asking the Palau Supreme Court Trial Division to order SSA to release their retirement benefits.
“The combined effect of (the current law) is a denial of plaintiffs’ retirement benefits and thus a taking of plaintiffs’ property in violation of the Palau Constitution,” the complainants said. The plaintiffs also asked the court to certify the civil suit as a class action.
