Lok Sabha Question No. 3895 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-19
Subject: PF Scheme for Beedi Workers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: SADASHIV KISAN LOKHANDE

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3895 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.03.2018

## PF SCHEME FOR BEEDI WORKERS

†3895. SHRI SADASHIV LOKHANDE:

Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:

- (a)the State-wise number of Beedi workers covered under the provident fund scheme in the country;
- (b)the details of the Government mechanism put in place to ensure that all the benefits available under the existing labour laws are provided to all the workers in the country;
- (c)whether the Government is aware of the unscrupulous acts of certain dishonest persons working/active in the EPFO  offices who  are allegedly exploiting the workers; and
- (d)if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken by the Government to check the exploitation of the workers?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

- (a): There are 41,67,833 Beedi workers as on 31.12.2017 under the Employees' Provident Funds Scheme, 1952 in the country. A statement showing State-wise number of Beedi workers is at Annexure.
- (b)  The  following  actions  have  been  taken  by  Employees'  Provident  Fund Organisation  (EPFO)  in  respect  of  defaulting  establishments  to  protect  the interest of workers covered under the Employees' Provident Funds  and Miscellaneous Provisions (EPF & MP) Act, 1952:
- (i) Action under section 7A of the Act against the defaulting establishments for assessment of dues.
- (ii) Action under Section 14B of the Act for levying of damages for belated deposit of dues.
- (iii) Action  under  Section  7Q  of  the  Act  for  levy  of  interest  for  belated remittances.
- (iv) Recovery actions as provided under Section 8B to 8G of the Act.

- (iv) Action  under  section  14  of  the  Act  for  filing  prosecution  against  the defaulters before the competent court of law.
- (v) Action  under  section  406/409  of  Indian  Penal  Code  (IPC)  against  the employer for non-payment of employees' share of contribution deducted from the wages/salary of the employees but not deposited in the fund.
- (vi) Default management system has been implemented to minimize default by establishments.
- (c) & (d): When  complaints  against  EPFO  officials  are  received,  these  are processed for investigation by the vigilance functionaries in EPFO. The following system improvement steps has been taken by EPFO for facilitation of workers:-
- (i) Improved and reliable service to provide minimum interface with EPFO officials with the help of latest Information Technology.
- (ii) Online  grievance/complaint  registration  on  CPGRAMS  &  EPFiGMS online grievance management portals.
- (iii) Compliance  complaints  are  sent  to  field  offices  online  and  being monitored by Head Office.
- (iv)    Online settlement of member claims for those having Universal Account Number  (UAN)  with  member  Aadhaar  verified      and  Know  Your Customer (KYC) updation.
- (v)      Real time monthly updation of   member accounts.
- (vi)    Reducing the time to 7 days for settlement of death claims and 10 days for other claims.
- (vii) Settlement of PF claim on the retirement date.
- (viii) Monthly Pension payment credited on 1st day of the month.
- (ix) Mode of Payment of all dues made only through National Electronics Funds Transfer (NEFT).

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Statement referred to in reply to part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3895  for  reply  on  19.03.2018  by  Shri  Sadashiv  Lokhande,  M.P.  regarding  'PF Scheme for Beedi Workers'.

| Sr. No.   | Name of State   | No. of Beedi Workers Employees' Provident Fund 31.12.2017   | covered Scheme   | under as on   |
|-----------|-----------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|------------------|---------------|
| 1         | ANDHRA PRADESH  | 9766                                                        |                  |               |
| 2         | ASSAM           | 1665                                                        |                  |               |
| 3         | BIHAR           | 35712                                                       |                  |               |
| 4         | CHHATTISGARH    | 18207                                                       |                  |               |
| 5         | GUJARAT         | 810                                                         |                  |               |
| 6         | JHARKHAND       | 72717                                                       |                  |               |
| 7         | KARNATAKA       | 652376                                                      |                  |               |
| 8         | KERALA          | 69562                                                       |                  |               |
| 9         | MADHYA PRADESH  | 220951                                                      |                  |               |
| 10        | MAHARASHTRA     | 195022                                                      |                  |               |
| 11        | ODISHA          | 162782                                                      |                  |               |
| 12        | RAJASTHAN       | 25963                                                       |                  |               |
| 13        | TAMIL NADU      | 720546                                                      |                  |               |
| 14        | TELANGANA       | 963413                                                      |                  |               |
| 15        | TRIPURA         | 269                                                         |                  |               |
| 16        | UTTAR PRADESH   | 20072                                                       |                  |               |
| 17        | WEST BENGAL     | 998050                                                      |                  |               |
|           | TOTAL           | 41,67,883                                                   |                  |               |

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