Employees Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) J&K and Ladakh in collaboration with District Administration, Budgam today conducted an awareness programme on employees provident fund Act 1952 and schemes framed thereunder, registration process and insurance of EPFO for the welfare of contractual, outsourced, and other part time employees engaged by various government departments and private organization.
The meeting was attended by different sectoral heads from tourism, education, health, agriculture, horticulture, labour, R&B, PDD, Jal Shakti, Industries, Social Welfare, Food Civil Supplies all MCS.Stressing on maximum number of eligible employees under different insurance and pension schemes, RPF Commissioner, Rizwan Uddin deliberated about applicability of EPF & Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 and elaborated the provisions of Employees' Pension Scheme 1995 and Employees Deposit Linked Insurance scheme,1976 especially responsibility of departments/ Organizations in registering process of their employees.
He advised all the Departments to extend benefits of these Schemes to all contract and outsourced employees engaged under various Govt departments directly or indirectly. He also explained to the audience about the process of registration of Principal Employers on the online portal of the EPFO.
The RPF Commissioner also said that contractors executing works under different departments like RDD, PMGSY, R&B, Jal Shakti, KPDCL, etc. should be registered under EPF & MP Act, 1952 so that their social security is ensured and they are benefited financially in case of need.
As per the act, he said, it is the duty and responsibility of Principal Employer to register their employees and EPFO also provides a link in EPFO website about registration of Principal Employer to register the contractors engaged by the said departments.
The RPF Commissioner on the occasion asked departments to make outreach programmes about the registration process of EPFO schemes so that more and more people are covered under the schemes.As per the Act, if any employee becomes an EPF member, he automatically gets membership of EPF pension scheme, 1995 and EDLI scheme, 1976.
If any member dies while in service, the nominee widow/ widower will get pension lifelong along with 2 children up to the age of 25 irrespective of their marital status and the nominee will get maximum benefit of Rs. 7.5 lakhs under EDLI scheme.
There are other pensions provided under the scheme as per eligibility of membership like superannuation, early pension, disability pension, orphan pension, widow pension and nominee pension.RPF Commissioner, Rizwan Uddin appreciated the coordination of DC Budgam, S F Hamid and expressed the need for further follow up by District Administration and associate Offices to extend Social Security in the district.
Later, the RPF Commissioner also met presidents of different Lab units of the district and impressed that they will coordinate in identification of contractors engaging construction works in different projects and subsequent in their registration process.