EPFO takes action against firms not covering workers

Ludhiana: Regional office of the Employees Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) on Monday conducted a massive search and survey action against the business establishments evading provident fund coverage.
The action was taken under the supervision of regional provident fund commissioner-2 Sumeet Singh and assistant provident fund commissioner Savinder Singh against five business units located at Jalandhar Bypass, New Madhopuri, Karimpura Bazaar, Bahadur K Road and Dhandari Kalan. Along with 20 officials of the EPFO, heavy police force, too, was pressed into service and different teams were formed to search the units.
At the firms, 278 employees were found working and none was covered under the provident fund law. Sumeet Singh said, “Relevant records of establishments were seized and seizure memo and spot memo (challans) were issued to them. All the units have been directed to immediately apply for allotment of EPFO code number and produce relevant documents before assistant provident fund commissioners for ascertaining date of coverage, which is the date from which an establishment started hiring 20 or more employees. Apart from statutory dues, any delayed remittances by these establishments will also attract damages and interest.”
Box
More action to follow
Regional provident fund commissioner-2 Sumeet Singh said the department has received information about 1,000 establishments in Ludhiana that had not got themselves registered under the EPF & MP Act, 1952, despite employing 20 or more workers, directly or through a contractor. “We are verifying this information through our field officers after getting permission from the Central Analysis & Intelligence Unit, EPFO head office, New Delhi. We have also issued notices and letters to these establishments to get themselves registered through online registration of establishments (OLRE) online portal. EPFO has taken many e-initiatives for promoting ease of doing business for employers. Despite conducting so many seminars in the past six months for spreading awareness about provisions and benefits under the EPF&MP Act, there is no visible increase in membership. Conducting surveys, raids and inspections are the last resorts when all our notices and seminars are overlooked.”
Box - Firms that faced action
Names of establishments ----------- Number of workers found
1. M/s PM Agencies, Jalandhar Bypass ---------- 71
2. M/s New KK Ravindra Hosiery, New Madhopuri ----- 47
3. M/s Lucky Towel, Karimpura Bazaar -----56
4. M/s Niceway Collections, Bahadur K Road---- 60
5. M/s Anand Industries, Industrial Estate, Dhandhari Kalan 44