EPFO to dispose off voluntary coverage cases by April 30

Asks its field formations to complete the processing and notification of such new online applications in two and half months time

Encouraging voluntary coverage of firms under its social security sachems, retirement fund body EPFO has decided to complete processing of all such pending applications in about two months time.

Besides, it has also asked its field formations to complete the processing and notification of such new online applications in two and half months time.

The firms which are not covered under Employees' Provident Fund & Miscellaneous Provisions Act, can apply for voluntary coverage of their workers under the social security schemes run by the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO).

Based on the application by the employers, the EPFO grants permission for coverage of such firms. The workers of these firms are covered under the schemes after notification of approval of these proposals.

An office order said that internal audit as well as Accountant General (Central) audit observed that in majority of cases, the proposal have not been forwarded by the Regional/Sub-Regional offices to Head office through Zonal Additional Central Provident Fund Commissioners.

It is also pointed out by the EPFO Headquarters in the office order that the Comptroller and Auditor General of India has adversely commented on the pendency of proposals for voluntary coverage.

The EPFO headquarters has asked regional offices to forward all pending proposals to Zonal Additional Central Provident Fund Commissioners (CPFC) by March 15.

The Zonal Additional CPFCs will scrutinise these proposals and forward the same to the EPFO Headquarters by March 31. The head office has set a timeline of 15 days till April 15 for approval of all such proposals.

The EPFO Headquarters has also asked the Zonal Additional CPFCs to notify all approved proposal for voluntary coverage by April 30.

Similarly, for all such online applications submitted between July 1, 2014 to January 31, the same timelines would be adhered to for processing the proposals.

EPFO had launched OLRE (online registration of establishments) portal on July 1, 2014.

The office order said that such new online proposals received will have to be processed and notified in about two and half months in future.