In light of the pandemic the Ministry of Labour and Employment has initiated reforms in labour laws to ensure safety, security and health for every worker. Many e-governance measures were introduced to simplify the entire EPFO claim process and the Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana (PMRPY) was launched.
Employee centric initiatives
- New facilities on Unified Portal for better service delivery where members can now view and download the pdf of their claim form and also record their date of exit themselves.
- EPFO has developed and deployed a mechanism for automatic settlement of claims for advance through system-based processing with minimal human intervention
- For ensuring uniform standards of service delivery across the country and optimum utilization of its workforce during COVID-19 Pandemic, EPFO has launched multi-location claim settlement facility to settle online claims from any of its Regional Offices, across the country.
- EPFO ensures hassle free service delivery through Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance (“UMANG”) during COVID-19 pandemic
- To extend the availability and reach of online services, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, EPFO has introduced KYC updation of its subscribers.
Employer centric initiatives
- As a part of the relief package under PMGKY, Govt. of India has proposed to pay 24% of the monthly wages into EPF accounts subject to certain conditions.
- Considering the unprecedented situation created by Covid-19 pandemic and the consequent lockdown, it was decided to allow grace period of 30 days (from 16.04.2020 to 15.05.2020) for filing of ECRs to employers of those establishments which have disbursed wages for March, 2020 to their employees
- Reduction in rate of contribution from 12% to 10% for wage months May, June and July, 2020 for all class of establishments covered under the EPF & MP Act, 1952
- Filing of monthly Electronic-Challan-cum-Receipt (ECR) has been separated from payment of statutory contributions reported in ECR
- Delays due to operational or economic reasons will not be treated as default and penal damages will not be levied for such delay.
- Virtual hearing facility for quasi-judicial cases
- A new facility of bulk transfer of funds and data from exempted trusts to EPFO through a single payment launched to enhance ease of doing business.
- ESIC has given an option to Employers to create their account on National Career Services (NCS) Portal on single click through Employer portal in ESIC’s website www.esic.inRelaxation in time limit was given to the employers for filing and depositing ESI Contribution for the month of February and March 2020 upto 15.07.2020.
Source: Ministry of Labour & Employment
