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90 companies violate Provident fund rules
Yet many companies flout the laws and avoid contributing to their share of the fund. Many times, the amount recovered from the employees is also not being deposited. Inquiry by this correspondent revealed that over 90 companies in north coastal Andhra which come under the regional provident fund commissioner office are wilfully not contributing to the fund.
Visakhapatnam: Provident fund provides security to the workers and monthly pension for their survival. The government laid out stringent provisions failing which the employer is liable for punishment under various laws.
Highlights:
- Thousands of employees left high and dry
- The region covering Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam has 10,681 establishments having 14,51,160 account holders (workers registered in PF records)
- Managements are not contributing to the PF scheme taking advantage of the illiteracy and ignorance of the workers, say Trade union leaders
- The present online system is also making things more complicated, they opine
- Regional PF commissioner T Indira says that so far they issued notices to 16 companies till July 31
Yet many companies flout the laws and avoid contributing to their share of the fund. Many times, the amount recovered from the employees is also not being deposited. Inquiry by this correspondent revealed that over 90 companies in north coastal Andhra which come under the regional provident fund commissioner office are wilfully not contributing to the fund.
This region covering Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam has 10,681 establishments having 14,51,160 account holders (workers registered in PF records).
Amount of contributions received amounts to Rs 131.1 crore. The region has also 70,000 pensioners. Around 150 to 200 persons visit the office per day for claims and for processing of pension scheme. Trade union leaders said the managements are not contributing to the PF scheme taking advantage of the illiteracy and ignorance of the workers. The present online system is also making things more complicated.
“Though some workers are aware of the PF scheme, they keep mum fearing loss of jobs. For them employment is more important than the PF,’’ said CITU city general secretary Jaggu Naidu.
He said small and big companies totaling more than 1,000 and having more than 20 workers are not contributing to provident fund. The enforcement wing is weak or corrupt which has been helping the defaulting companies. “So far we have issued notices to 16 companies till July 31 and in the process of sending notices to 70 more companies,’’ said regional PF
commissioner T Indira. Talking to this correspondent, she said if the erring companies fail to respond to the notices, the officials would be sent for field inspection and later file a criminal case. The companies bank accounts will also be frozen, she said. To solve minor issues, PF Adalats are held on 10th of every month, she added.
By Jatlee Dontala
