Lok Sabha Question No. 2339 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-31
Subject: PF to Bidi Workers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: ASHOK MAHADEORAO NETE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2339 TO BE ANSWERED ON 31.07.2017

## PF TO BIDI WORKERS

†2339. SHRI ASHOK MAHADEORAO NETE:

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

- (a)the number of Bidi workers getting benefit of employees Provident     Fund
- (PF) scheme in the country, State/UT-wise;
- (b)the details of the mechanism put in place by the Government for ensuring
- all benefits to the workers under the labour laws;
- (c)whether the Government is aware of reported exploitation of workers by officials of EPFOs; and
- (d)if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  corrective  steps  taken  by  the
- Government to check the exploitation of the workers?
- ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)

- (a): There  are  39,25,053  Bidi  Worker  member  accounts  in  Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) out of which 14,73,413 are contributory members for the wage month March 2017.  A statement showing the details of State-wise number of Bidi workers is at Annexure.
- (b): The details of action taken by 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) Real  time  default  management  system  has  been  implemented  to minimize default by establishments.
- (ii) Action under section 7A of the Act against the defaulting establishments for assessment of dues.
- (iii) Action under section 14B of the Act for levying of damages for belated deposit of dues.

Contd..2/-

- (iv) Action  under  section  7Q  of  the  Act  for  levy  of  interest  for  belated remittances.
- (v) Action for recovery as provided under sections 8B to 8G of the Act.
- (vi) Action  under  section  14  of  the  Act  for  filing  prosecution  against  the defaulters before the competent court of law.
- (vii) Action  under  section  406/409  of  Indian  Penal  Code  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.
- (c) & (d): Complaints received against EPFO officials are investigated by the vigilance functionaries in EPFO. The following system improvement steps has been taken by EPFO for facilitation of workers:
- (i) Separate online compliance complaints related portal has been launched.
- (ii) Online grievance/complaint registration on CPGRAMS & EPFiGMS online grievance management portals.
- (iii) Improved and reliable service to provide minimum interface with EPFO officials with the help of latest Information Technology.
- (iv) Online settlement of member claims for those having UAN with member Aadhaar verified   and KYC updation.
- (v) Real time monthly updation of   member accounts.
- (vi) Reducing the time for settlement of death claims   within 7 days.
- (vii) Settlement of PF claims 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 NEFT.

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Statement referred to in reply to part (a) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.2339 for  31.07.2017  raised  by    Shri  Ashok  Mahadeorao  Nete  regarding  'PF  to  Bidi Workers'

| Sr. No.   | Name of State   | NO. OF ACCOUNTS of bidi members   | No. of contributory bidi members in April, 2017   |
|-----------|-----------------|-----------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|
| 1         | UTTARAKHAND     | 97                                | 25                                                |
| 2         | TRIPURA         | 380                               | 216                                               |
| 3         | ASSAM           | 1,485                             | 364                                               |
| 4         | ANDHRA PRADESH  | 8,827                             | 1,908                                             |
| 5         | GUJARAT         | 14,617                            | 172                                               |
| 6         | CHATTISGARH     | 18,150                            | 5,055                                             |
| 7         | UTTAR PRADESH   | 18,332                            | 4,066                                             |
| 8         | RAJASTHAN       | 24,524                            | 5,086                                             |
| 9         | BIHAR           | 34,964                            | 19,754                                            |
| 10        | SIKKIM          | 52,692                            | 28,711                                            |
| 11        | JHARKHAND       | 68,972                            | 17,676                                            |
| 12        | KERALA          | 71,297                            | 27,012                                            |
| 13        | ODISHA          | 1,57,254                          | 51,033                                            |
| 14        | MAHARASHTRA     | 1,90,099                          | 63,273                                            |
| 15        | MADHYA PRADESH  | 2,09,190                          | 43,645                                            |
| 16        | KARNATAKA       | 6,39,070                          | 1,62,887                                          |
| 17        | TAMIL NADU      | 7,06,171                          | 1,63,675                                          |
| 18        | WEST BENGAL     | 7,97,784                          | 4,13,242                                          |
| 19        | TELANGANA       | 9,11,148                          | 4,65,613                                          |
|           | Grand Total     | 39,25,053                         | 14,73,413                                         |

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