House panel to examine functioning of EPFO

NEW DELHI: A parliamentary panel will examine the functioning of the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), its coverage and recovery of arrears.nnThe Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour has also decided to review the implementation of labour laws, social security and welfare scheme for workers.nnThe panel will be headed by BJP MP Kirit Somaiya. It has selected a wide range of subjects related to labourers, including the International Labour Organisation conventions binding on India and the measures taken by the government to implement them, according to a bulletin issued by the Lok Sabha secretariat.nnIt will also look into the working conditions and welfare of mine workers, and review the working of the Directorate General of Mines Safety.nnThe panel had earlier suggested that the EPFO should act as the sole regulator for all categories of provident funds, particularly private PF trusts, and there should be a strong regulatory system in place for all PF trusts.nnAt present, the EPFO is not the sole PF organisation or regulator in the country. The provident fund of private establishments/organisation/PSUs largely come under the EPFO purview.nnThe parliamentary panel had also asked the Ministry of Labour and Employment to collect, with regard to the total number of PF trusts under the PF Act, 1925, information about the number of subscribers and total contribution from subscribers, so that any unclaimed amount lying in these trusts could be identified or utilised for the benefit of its subscribers, the bulletin added.nnSource: Press Trust of India