EPFOA flags gaps, seeks stronger enforcement

The Employees’ Provident Fund Officers’ Association (EPFOA) has urged the Central Provident Fund Commissioner (CPFC) to empower field offices with greater authority and modern technology to effectively deal with cases of default and non-compliance.

In a letter dated December 11, EPFOA highlighted serious systemic lapses exposed by the December 7 fire at a nightclub in Goa, which claimed 25 lives. Of the victims, 20 were employees of the establishment, while five were tourists.

The association pointed out that the nightclub, registered under an EPF code, had allegedly failed to remit any provident fund contributions for its employees. It further noted that another EPF code linked to the owners showed contributions for only three individuals, none matching the deceased workers.

With the owners reportedly absconding, securing provident fund, pension and insurance benefits for victims’ families has become difficult. EPFOA attributed this failure to weakened inspections and the absence of effective technology-based monitoring tools, adding that the e-inspection system launched in 2019 remains largely ineffective.