Question : EPF BENEFITS FOR WORKERS

(a) the number of factories/industrial units/power plants of medium and small size in the country including Chhattisgarh where twenty or more labourers are employed;

(b) whether the benefit of provident fund deduction under Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 is reaching to the employees working in the above organisations/power plants;

(c) if so, the number of labourers getting benefit from these organisations/power plants, plant-wise; and

(d) if not, the action taken by the Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI MALLIKARJUN KHARGE)

(a): As per the statistics compiled by Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, there are 57,270 enterprises in the country including Chhattisgarh where more than twenty labourers are employed.

(b): Benefits are available to all employees covered under the Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions (EPF&MP) Act, 1952.

(c) & (d): While the statistics with regard to labourers working in medium and small industries is not maintained separately by the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), 4,68,039 members are enrolled in respect of 571 power plants under the Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952.Number of members getting benefits under the Act State-wise is annexed.

Whenever any evasion of membership in organizations covered under the Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 is detected, appropriate actions are taken as per provisions of the said Act.