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Question
Under RA 11199 on Social Security System coverage, a private medical clinic, Aurora Wellness Center, hires a “Clinical Research Coordinator” for six months to oversee a donor-funded health project. The parties sign an Independent Contractor Agreement labeling the coordinator as an independent contractor. The coordinator reports daily to the Project Lead, attends daily briefings, follows clinic SOPs, uses clinic-provided laptop and data-entry software, and is assigned tasks and deadlines by the Project Lead. The clinic can terminate the engagement at will. The coordinator runs her own medical research consultancy and may accept other paid engagements during evenings and weekends. The clinic has not remitted SSS contributions for the coordinator and argues that she is not an employee subject to SSS coverage. Under RA 11199, answer: (a) Whether the coordinator is an employee for purposes of SSS coverage; (b) If she is, what are the employer’s and employee’s SSS obligations; if not, why not; (c) What factors would the SSS consider in determining the coordinator's status despite the contract label?