New Delhi (NVI): In a move realm of aimed at enhancing Ease of Doing Business and promote transparency in the working of Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO), government has launched three new apps called UAN Registration, e-inspection and Digi Locker.
EPFO is the biggest social security organization of the world covering around six crore active members and 65 lakh pensioners and maintaining around 22 crore accounts of workers with a fund of approximately 13 lakh crore. EPFO is giving better interest rates to it’s subscribers which was recently enhanced upto 8.65%.
Minister of State (I/C) for Labour and Employment Santosh Kumar Gangwar, while speaking at the 67th EPFO Foundation Day here on November 2, said that these Apps will immensely enhance the Ease of Doing Business and promote transparency in the working in the EPFO.
“We have used information technology in a big way for better service delivery to members and providing online transfer of Provident Fund, online claim settlement, providing digital lockers for keeping documents in digital form.” he said.
Now, if your EPF account is linked with Aadhar then withdrawal of funds is very easy. A time limit of 10 days has been fixed for claim settlement.” he added.
Some important digital initiatives of EPFO
(1) Online Facility for UAN generation by worker: Now any workers can obtain Universal Account Number (UAN) directly on EPFO website which enrolls them for PF, Pension and Life Insurance benefits and a worker need not depend on his employer alone for UAN. This is in the direction of ease of living and ensuring universal social security.
(2) EPS Pensioner’s PPO in DigiLocker website and Application (APP): EPFO integrates with DigiLocker of NeGD to create depository of electronic PPOs which is accessible to individual pensioners. This is a move towards paperless system and ease of living for pensioners.
(3) e-Inspections: Digital interface of EPFO with employers: The E-Inspection Form would be available in user login of employers not filing ECR which enables employer to inform either closure of business or unpaid dues with proposal for payment. It will nudge employers for compliant behavior and prevent undue harassment of non-willful defaulters and eliminate inspector raj.
-sb
