'Over 12,100 firms found defaulting on PF till Dec this fiscal'

Over 12,100 establishments have been found defaulting on their PF contribution till December this fiscal and action is being initiated against them, Parliament was informed today.

Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat, West Bengal, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh are among the states with highest number of such instances in the last four years up to December 2014-15.

"Instances of non-deposit of contribution by some establishments, covered under Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions have come to the notice of EPFO as they have violated the provisions of the Act and schemes framed thereunder," Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya said in a written reply to Lok Sabha.

He said as many as 12,107 establishments (up to December) in 2014-15 have been found to be defaulting on the EPFO fund contribution.

In 2013-14, the number of such firms were at 13,344; 11,395 in 2012-13; and 11,903 in 2011-12.

Actions taken by EPFO include assessment of dues, levying of damages for belated deposit of dues, levy of interest for belated remittances and action under Indian Penal Code (IPC) against the employer for non-payment of employees' share of contribution deducted from the wages or salary of the employees but not deposited in the fund.