Thiruvananthapuram: Employee Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) will enrol contract and construction workers in all sectors including private, public and banking sectors. “A portal has been opened for the principal employer to upload the details of all contracts so that enrolment of all contract workers can be facilitated,” said Central provident fund commissioner Dr V P Joy at a press conference here on Friday.
Ever since he had taken over in February 2016, Dr Joy had given top priority to the issue of coverage of contract workers. EPFO had even cracked the whip on firms failing to ensure remittance of the provident fund, pension and insurance amounts on behalf of their regular contract workers and those employed through contractors.
In a missive sent to organised public sector units after taking over, he had said: “It is often observed that the contractors claim huge amounts towards EPF of contract workers from the principal employer but either do not deposit it at all or deposit it partly, thus depriving these workers of PF, pension and insurance benefits.” Under the Employees’ Provident Fund Act 1952, an EPF account is mandatory for all employees earning up to Rs 15,000 per month in firms employing more than 20 workers.
Dr Joy said EPFO would be made more employee-friendly. “To see the credit balance and avail online services, employees may link their Aadhar and bank account details with their UAN (universal account number),” he said. The interest for the provident fund accumulation for 2015-16 has been enhanced to 8.8 percent from 8.75 percent.
