Monitoring of Welfare Measures – EPFO
EMPLOYEES’ PROVIDENT FUND ORGANISATION
MINISTRY OF LABOUR & EMPLOYMENT, GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
To
All ACC (HQ) (Zone) / ACC (Zone) / Director (PDUNASS) / ACC (ASD) &
The President, Regional Staff Welfare Committees
Subject: Monitoring of Welfare Measures – Regarding
10 SEP 2020
Sir/Madam,
After a clarification from the Ministry of Home Affairs that services rendered by EPFO, being essential services, are out of the lockdown guidelines and also considering the perception of enhanced risk of EPF employees of being exposed to COVID-19, the Central Staff Welfare Committee (EPF), pro¬actively, increased ex gratia DRF to Rs 10.00 Lakhs in case an EPF employee expires due to COVID¬19. Accordingly, paragraph 4(vi) of the Head Office letter no. Welfare/3 (136)2019/Policy Matter/o8 dated 28.04.2020, prescribes that ex gratia DRF should, ordinarily, be paid within 15 days of the death. Similarly, under paragraph 4(e) of guidelines issued vide Head Office letter no. HRM-V/11(o7) Compassionate Appointment / Policy Matter/2o19/ Vol.111/478/ 2020 dated 23.07.2020, it was clearly laid down that Welfare Officer would be deputed, immediately, after the death of an EPF employee for assisting the eligible family member in completing the formalities related to appointment on compassionate grounds.
2. During a review of COVID-19 related deaths in EPFO, the CPFC/President, CSWC expressed his displeasure on inordinate delays in payment of ex-gratia DRF to the family members in all cases on flimsy grounds. He noted with his deep anguish that in none of the case, even after the lapse of over three months, Welfare Officer had been deputed for collecting the request for compassionate appointment. He directed that reasons for such delay must be ascertained from the respective Regional Offices and be forwarded to the Head Office with specific recommendations of respective ACCs (ZO). Hence, all ACCs (ZO) of the state of Bihar, Gujarat, Telangana and West Bengal and the ACC (HQ) of Maharashtra, are requested to furnish a detailed status report as desired by the CPFC at the earliest and ensure that the Welfare Officer is deputed immediately to meet the family members of the deceased employee for collecting the information/documents.
3. In the light of explicit directions of Head Office, all ZOs are, therefore, requested, once again, to accord top priority to welfare measures taken by EPFO in all death cases of our own employees, especially those due to COVID-19. It is requested to update an action taken report by every Thursday in Excel file for which detailed guidelines are annexed herewith.
Yours faithfully,
End: as above.
(Uma Mandal)
Additional Central PF Commissioner (HRM)
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