Firms with atleast 10 employees may come under EPF Act

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government may reduce the threshold limit for coverage of firms under the Employees Provident Fund to 10 workers. At present, any firm hiring at least 20 people is covered by retirement body EPFO which provides social security benefits.

"A proposal to reduce the threshold limit from 20 persons to 10 persons for coverage under the Employees' Provident Funds & Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 is included in the comprehensive amendment to the Act, which is under consideration of the Government," Minister of State for Labour Vishnu Deo Sai said in written reply to Rajya Sabha.

However, no timeframe has been set to implement the proposal, Sai added. "The number of employees to be benefited from this proposal has not been worked out," Sai said. At present, the EPFO provides benefits to 117.81 million members.