Rs 27,000 cr lying unclaimed in EPF: Labour Minister

Bandaru Dattatreya says money will be used for workers' welfare; ministry is mulling schemes for its utilisation

An amount of Rs 27,000 crore is lying as unclaimed in the Employees Provident Fund, Union minister of state for Labour, Bandaru Dattatreya said here today.

"A sum of RS 27,000 crore is lying as unclaimed amount in the EPF, which will be utilised for the welfare of workers. My ministry is contemplating schemes (for its utilisation)," Dattatreya said at a function here.

He said the total deposit in EPF at present stands at Rs 8.62 lakh crore.

"The NDA government is keen to amend the century-old British labour laws and implement reforms in labour sector for the welfare of workers," he said, adding the government will provide skill development training to about two crore workers in the next two years under the 'Skill Development Programme'.

Dattatreya announced upgrading of ESI hospital here to 150-bed hospital and also improving the status of similar hospitals at Kakinda, Nellore, Chittivalasa, Pedakakani.