The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation, abbreviated to EPFO, is a statutory body of
the Government of India under the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
It administers a compulsory contributory Provident Fund Scheme, Pension Scheme and an Insurance
Scheme.
It is one of the largest social security organisations in India in terms of the number of covered
beneficiaries and the volume of financial transactions undertaken.
The EPFO's apex decision making body is the Central Board of Trustees.
The total assets under management are more than 5 lakh crore as of 1 May 2013.
On October 2014 Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched universal account number for employee
provident fund to enable PF number portability.
PROVIDENT FUND India Orgnization Headquarters is located at- 14,
Bhikaiji Cama Place, Bhavishya Nidhi Bhawan Legal basis
The Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 came into effect on 4
March 1952.
The organisation is administered by a Central Board of Trustees, composed of representatives
of the Government of India, provincial governments, employers and employees.
The board is chaired by the Union Labour Minister of India.
The Chief Executive of the EPFO, the Central Provident Fund Commissioner, reports to the
Union Labour Minister through the Permanent Secretary in the ministry.
The headquarters of the organisation is in New Delhi.
The Constitution of India under "Directive Principles of State Policy" provides that
the State shall within the limits of its economic capacity make effective provision for securing
the right to work, to education and to public assistance in cases of unemployment, old-age,
sickness & disablement and undeserved want.
The EPF & MP Act, 1952 was enacted by the Parliament of India and came into force with
effect from 4 March 1952 as part of a series of legislative interventions made in this
direction.
Presently, the following three schemes are in operation under the Act:
Employees' Provident Fund Scheme, 1952 Employees' Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme,
1976 Employees' Pension Scheme, 1995
Appeals The orders of the Department can be appealed
to Employees' Provident Fund Appellate Tribunal at New Delhi.
The Tribunal is located at Scope Tower, Laxmi Nagar, New Delhi and is presided by Presiding
Officer who is a member of Judicial Service and by a Registrar who is deputed from the
otther central government cadres.
Structure The EPFO has the dual role of being the enforcement
agency to oversee the implementation of the EPF& MP Act and as a service provider for
the covered beneficiaries throughout the country.
To this end, the Commissioners of the Organisation are vested with vast powers under the statute
conferring quasi- judicial authority for search and seizure of records, assessment of financial
liability on the employer, levy of damages, attachment and auction of a defaulter's property,
prosecution and arrest and detention in civil prison.
Administratively, the organisation is organised into zones which are headed by an Additional
Central Provident Fund Commissioner for each of the political states in the country.
The states have either one or more than one Regional Offices headed by Regional P.F.
Commissioners which are further sub- divided into Sub-Regions headed by Regional P.F.
Commissioners.
To assist them are Assistant P.F.
Commissioners.
Most of the districts in the country have small district offices where an Enforcement
Officer is stationed to inspect the local establishments and attend to grievances.
The total manpower of the EPFO is at present more than 20000 including all levels.
The Commissioner cadre numbering 815 are recruited directly, competitively, through the Union
Public Service Commission of India as well as through promotion from lower ranks.
Subordinate Officers are also recruited directly in addition to promotion from the staff cadre
of social security assistants.
References
External links EPFO's Main website
EPFO India Forms Know Your EPF Balance
Know Your Claim Status