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Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, June 17
A team of the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) today raided five units wherein they found 278 workers not registered under the EPF and MP Act. The owners failed to get their units registered under the Act to provide social security benefits to their eligible employees.
As many as 71 workers were found working at PM Agencies near Jalandhar Bypass, 47 at New KK Ravindra Hosiery in New Madhopuri, 56 at Lucky Towel House in Karimpura Bazaar near Field Ganj, 60 at Niceway Collections on Bahadur-Ke-Road and 44 workers at Anand Industries, Indian Estate, here.
During the raids, the EPFO team took the details, including the names of the employees and their salary. If the units still failed to follow the rules, they could face stringent action as per law.
Regional PF Commissioner-2 Sumeet Singh said 278 employees were found to be unregistered at these establishments. He said they conducted surveys for coverage under the EPF and MP Act, 1952, after getting due permission from the Central Analysis and Intelligence Unit (CAIU), New Delhi.
The raided establishments have been directed to immediately apply for allotment of EPF Code number. These units have also been directed to produce relevant record before the Assistant PF Commissioners for ascertaining the date from which 20 or more workers were employed. Apart from statutory dues, any delayed remittance by these establishments will also attract damages and interest under Section 14 B and 7Q of the Act, said Sumeet Singh.
1,000 more establishments under scanner
The EPFO officials claimed that they had received third-party information about 1,000 establishments functioning in Ludhiana without getting registered under the Act despite employing 20 or more workers directly or through a contractor. Sources said awareness seminars and show-cause notices were being ignored by many ‘defaulter’ establishments.
The EPFO has taken many e-initiatives in the process for promoting ease of doing business for employers. For getting EPF Code number, no employer has to visit the EPF office or meet the PF inspector. They just need to log in to EPFO OLRE portal and fill in the information required. The EPF code number will be generated automatically on a real time basis,” said Sumeet Singh.
An official said: “Despite conducting so many seminars in the past six months for creating awareness about the provisions and benefits under the Act, there is neither any visible increase in membership nor any effort by establishments to register under the EPF Act so that all of their eligible workers can get social security benefits. We appeal to the associations to guide and motivate their members to make proper compliance under the EPF and MP Act.”
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