EPFO Makes Further Progress MORE than 10 Lakh Claims Settled by EPFO in October, 2013 EPFO Stresses on Complaint Resolution.

               The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) settled 10,21,922 claims during the month of October, 2013.  This number is 28% higher than the claims settled in the month of September, 2013. 72% of these claims were settled within 10 days while remaining 28% were settled within 30 days.  EPFO’s efforts in grievance redressal has paid dividends.  Number of complaints in Central Public Grievances Redressal System (CPGRAM) has come down to less than 100.  No. of grievances in Employees Provident Fund internet Grievance System (EPFiGMS) which has been activated lately have also got reduced from more than 25,000 to less than 5,500. Shri K.K. Jalan, Central Provident Fund Commissioner expressed his happiness over the fact that 108 offices out of 123 offices of EPFO do not have a single complaint pending for more than 30 days.
 
               These data were revealed during  a meeting convened today by the Central Provident Fund Commissioner (CPFC) Shri K.K.Jalan.  He also informed that the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation got a receipt of 5,689 crores as remittances during the month of October, 2013 through 4.86 lakh establishments, which filed electronic challans cum return. He was also happy to note that a annual account updation software which was launched in September, 2013 has resulted into updation of 8.21 crores annual accounts till October, 2013.

EPFO Rerformance in September 2013

   While reviewing the work of Employees Provident Fund Organisation during September 2013, it has been observed that the Organisation settled 7,96,759 claims in its 123 offices located throughout the country compared to 7,49,639 claims settled during September 2012. More than 50 % of the offices settled more than 80% of the claims within 10 days of receipt. Offices such as Ujjain, Gwalior, Udaipur, Jabalpur, Agra and Laxmi Nagar among many others are settling 80% of the claims within 3 days. The review meeting was taken by Shri K. K. Jalan, CPFC recently.

   In addition to the above, the Organisation responded to 16,586 grievances in the month of September. As a result, the number of total grievances has come to around 6,000. The earlier number was more than 25,000. It is also relevant that 101 of the 123 offices have no grievance pending for more than a month.

Declaration of Productivity Linked Bonus (P.L.B.) for the year 2012-2013.

Employees' Provident Fund Organisation
(Ministry of Labour & Employment, Govt. Of India)

No. WSU/12(1)12012-13/PLB/13048

Date: 09 Oct 2013

All Regional P.F. Commissioners
In-charge of the ROs/SROs
Regional P.F. Commissioner-I(ASD), Head Office

Sub: Declaration of Productivity Linked Bonus (P.L.B.) for the year 2012-2013.

Sir,
   The Central Government, under Section 5D(7) of the Employees' Provident Funds & Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 has conveyed its approval to the extension of the existing Productivity Linked Bonus Scheme 1998-2004 (Revised) for the year 2012-2013 vide their letter No A-26022/1/1994-SS.1 dated 07th October 2013.

DA to EPF Pensioners.

   As per the statistics available upto  31.03.2012, the number of pensioners receiving pension less than Rs. 500/- p.m. is  around 12 lakh and those receiving more than Rs. 500  and less than Rs.1000/- is around 16.05 lakh.
 
   A number of representations have been received against meager pension and demanding increase in the pension. In order to address this issue, the Government of India constituted an Expert Committee for reviewing the Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995 on 12.06.2009.  The recommendation of the Expert Committee was considered by Pension Implementation Committee (PIC), a sub-Committee of Central Board of Trustees (CBT), Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF), which inter-alia recommended that a minimum monthly pension under Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995 be increased to Rs. 1000/- per month as an interim measure. The recommendation of the PIC was considered by CBT, EPF. However, the discussion remained inconclusive. A proposal for providing minimum pension of Rs. 1000/- under EPS, 1995 is under consideration of the Government.
            
   Central Government appoints Valuer under Para 32 of the Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995 for annual valuation of Employees’ Pension Fund. Depending on the valuation report, the Central Government declared additional relief whenever Pension Fund permitted to do so. From 5th valuation of Employees’ Pension Fund as on 31.3.2001, the fund is showing continuous deficit, therefore, pension could not be revised by the Central Government.

   However, the following categories of pension were increased w.e.f. 29.01.2000 in the following manner:

Category of Pension	Increased from	Increased to
Widow/Widower Pension	Rs. 250/-	Rs. 450/-
Children Pension	Rs. 115/-	Rs. 150/-
Orphan Pension	Rs. 170/-	Rs. 250/-

   On the basis of the annual valuations carried out by the valuer appointed by the Central Government, the Central Government grants relief to pensioners, if the Employees’ Pension Fund shows surplus. The first four valuations showed surplus and accordingly relief of 4%, 5.5%, 4% & 4% was granted during 1996 to 2000. However, no relief has been declared by the Central Government after 31.03.2000 as the fund is showing continuous deficit thereafter.
 
   This information was given by Minister of State for Labour & Employment Shri  Kodikunnil Suresh in the Rajya  Sabha today in reply to a written question.

PIB

PF Cases Awaiting Settlement

   As on 13.12.2012 (for the period from 01.04.2012 to 13.12.2012), out of 107.16 Lakh claims received for settlement order, only 6.96 Lakh claims are pending for settlement.

   The obstacles faced in settlement of claims inter-alia include:

   (i) Incomplete claims (no bank account number,incomplete employee details, etc.)
   (ii) Incorrect claims (wrong account number, incorrect personal details, etc.)

Payment of EPF.

   Employees of a liquidated company can file their claim for provident fund, duly attested by any of the following authorized persons:

    Member of Parliament;

    Member of Legislative Assembly;

    Magistrate;

    A Gazetted Officer;

    Sarpanch of the Village;

    Manager of the Bank in which the Bank Account of the claimant is maintained; and

    Notary Public, etc.

   As per the provisions contained in the Employees’ Provident Funds Scheme, 1952, claims of a member, completed in all respect, is to be settled within 30 days of its receipt in the office Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO).

   This information was given by the Union Labour & Employment Minister Shri Mallikarjun Kharge in reply to a written question in the Lok Sabha today.

PIB