PUNE: The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has started taking action against the defaulters who have deducted PF amount from the employees but not deposited it. The Akurdi Regional office initiated a special recovery drive against all defaulting establishments in March. The office has recovered Rs 2.16 crore and assets worth Rs 6 crore have been attached by the office.
Amitab Prakash, Regional PF Commissioner, Regional Office Pune 2, Akurdi, told Sakal Times, “For the year 2017-18, arrear dues totalling Rs 10.37 crore were pending against 743 establishments. So far, Rs 2.16 crore has been recovered and assets worth Rs 6 crore have been attached by the office.”
“EPFO wants to ensure that PF arrears of employees, which are an indispensable ingredient of social security, should be deposited without any delay," Amitab Prakash warned the defaulters.
EPFO is empowered under section 8B to 8G of EPF and MP Act 1952 to arrest and detain the employer, attach bank accounts, attach and auction movable and immovable properties of the establishment/ employer.
“Under the special drive, these coercive measures are being initiated against all defaulting establishments that have failed or neglected to pay the dues till now,” he said.
In early March, a circular was sent by EPFO, Delhi, to all zonal and regional offices and states that the regional commissioner will decide on the basis of default amount under the category ‘A’ and ‘B’ of defaulting companies. And priority should be given to inspect the companies whose default amount is higher.
“The companies, which have not deposited PF amount for four wage months and more, come under the ‘A’ category. Those who have not deposited the amount for two or three wage months come under category ‘B’. In the same way, the companies, which have not deposited the PF amount of one month fall into ‘C’ category,” states the circular.
