The Government of India has been forced
to withdraw the notifications, amending the rules for withdrawal of funds from
the Employees'
Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO).
Confederation of Central Government Gazetted Officers Organisations (CCGGOO) opinioned
that the government, which was not prepared to listen to the demands of the
central trade unions and their representatives in the Central Board of Trustees
of EPFO, had to withdraw it because of struggles of employees in different
parts of the country including Bengaluru and Visakhapatnam.
It is to be recalled that last year’s
union budget proposed to appropriate the so-called unclaimed money from EPFO
while this year the government proposed to tax EPFO contributions, which it had
to withdraw later due to huge protests in different parts of the country. These
measures are part of the government policies aimed at dismantling the EPF
itself.
In the meeting of the CBT on March 29,
2016, all the trade union representatives demanded withdrawal of this
notification or to give an option to the employees to withdraw their money or
to continue to keep it in EPFO. The government is trying to mislead by saying
that the amendment on February 10 was done as per the suggestions of some trade
unions.
Denial of full withdrawal creates
serious difficulties to the employees, particularly in situations where they do
not have any job security and other statutory benefits, as in the case of
garment sector where huge unrest has erupted.
The CCGGOO has congratulated the employees
who have forced the government to withdraw this unwanted amendment. It
reiterated its demand that the government should hold proper consultations with
trade unions before taking any policy decision that impacts the workers in any
way.
