Question : AMENDMENT IN EMPLOYEES PROVIDENT FUNDS AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS ACT,1952

(a) the details of the present membership of the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), State-wise and office-wise;

(b) whether the various steps taken by the Government including the Compliance 2001 programme have failed to increase the membership of EPFO substantially;

(c) if so, the main reasons therefor;

(d) whethere the Central Board of Trustees have constituted a sub-committee to look into the matter;

(e) if so, the details thereof;

(f) whether the Government proposes to amend the Employees Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 to cover more organisations; and

(g) if so, the details thereof alongwith the time by which it is likely to be amended?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI OSCAR FERNANDES)

(a): The region-wise details of membership of the Employees Provident Fund as on 31.03.2007 is given at Annexure.

(b) & (c): Membership of the Fund of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation has continuously increased over the years.

(d) & (e): Yes, Sir. A Sub-Committee on strategic adjustments in the Compliance 2001 has been constituted. The composition of the Committee is as under:

1. Joint Secretary (Social Security), Ministry of Labour & Employment- Chairman

2. Sh. Sharad Patil, Secretary General, Employees’ Federation of India – Member

3. Sh. V.P. Chopra, President, Federation of Association of Small Industries of India (FASII) - Member

4. Sh. Ashok Singh, Secretary, INTUC - Member

5. Sh. W.R. Varada Rajan, Secretary, CITU - Member 6. Additional Central Provident Fund Commissioner (Compliance), Head Office, Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation - Convener

(f) & (g): Appropriate action is taken by the Government from time to time to bring more establishments under the purview of the Employees’ Provident Funds & Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952. The following four new classes of establishments have recently been specified for the purpose of applicability of the Act:

1. Companies offering life insurance, annuities, etc. other than Life Insurance Corporation of India;

2. Private airports and joint venture airports;

3. Electronic media companies in private sector;

4. Lodging houses, service apartments and condominiums.
The Act is presently applicable to 186 industries/class of establishments.