Bengaluru: Confusion over withdrawal of Employee Provident Fund (EPF) continues in garment factories, not only in Bengaluru, but also in Ramanagara, Mandya, Srirangapatna, Shivamogga and other places.
Garment factory workers at Peenya, Nagawara, Bommanahalli and Mysore Road, where they resorted to violent protests a few days ago, are still a confused as the managements are playing a game to save on employees’ gratuity, activists claimed.
“The managements are deliberately trying to break the service of workers so that they can save gratuity money,” said Madeena Taj, an activist from Garment And Textile Workers Union (GATWU).
“If a worker completes 5 years at a factory, the company has to pay gratuity of 15 days’ pay per month for five years, that is 75 days’ pay as gratuity to be paid by the company. If their service is interrupted, the company saves the money. If an employee completes 10 years, then the gratuity is one month’s pay per year,” she said.
The Regional Provident Fund Commissioner’s office at Peenya reiterated that there is no need for any confusion. “The central government through notification No. 35012/2015-SS.II dated 19.04.2016 has withdrawn the gazette notification No. GSR 158 (E) dated 10.02.2016 and PF settlement will continue as per existing rules,” it said.
The union leader said that they are making the employees aware of PF withdrawal rules among and telling them not to heed to rumours, including those spread by the managements, who have vested interests.
