Employers given deadline to deposit PF dues

SHILLONG: Regional PF Commissioner, Meghalaya and Mizoram, KK Srivastava has urged employers in the two states to deposit PF dues latest by 15th of the following month to avoid legal proceedings and damages and interest as per rules. Srivastava informed that the Central Intelligence and Analysis Unit of Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) in New Delhi every month finds 350 PF defaulters in Shillong.
He further said that coercive action is being taken against employers who do not deposit the PF dues by the deadline. He said names of such defaulters exist in defaulting establishment list.Srivastava also urged employers to deposit employees’ share on the date of disbursement of salary itself.
He said that if any employer does not deposit employees’ share latest by the 15th of next month after deduction of PF dues from their salaries, FIR under IPC 406/409 may be lodged against such employers.
He further said that if any employer fails to deposit PF dues timely irrespective of whether salary has been disbursed or not, the employer is liable to be prosecuted as per rules and he/she may be prosecuted and a penalty up to Rs 25, 000 and/or up to five years imprisonment may be imposed.
Moreover, attachment of bank accounts and movable and immovable properties and issuance of arrest warrant may also be initiated against defaulters.
Srivastava appealed to all employers in Meghalaya and Mizoram to cooperate and comply with provisions of EPF & MP Act, 1952 and pay PF dues each month regularly and timely to avoid legal proceedings following the rules including damages and interest.