ALLEGATIONSof large-scale irregularities in Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) deductions of thousands of outsourced workers engaged by the Jabalpur Municipal Corporation (JMC) have surfaced. Former MLA Vinay Saxena has demanded immediate action and a detailed investigation into the matter. Vinay Saxena visited the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation office at Vijay Nagar and met EPF Commissioner I Rakesh Sahrawat. He submitted a memorandum alleging serious irregularities in EPF deductions of outsourced employees working in various municipal departments.

 

In the memorandum, Saxena stated that thousands of workers are engaged on a contractual basis in departments such as health, sanitation, security, com puter operations, garden, light ing, encroachment removal squads and hawk gangs. Workers have complained that EPF amounts are being deducted from their monthly salaries but are not being deposited in their EPF accounts. He stated that more than 5,000 outsourced workers are employed under sanitation contracts alone.

 

As per rules, contractors are required to deposit EPF and ESIC contributions regularly, but this is allegedly not being done. He questioned where the deducted money, running into crores of rupees, is going if not being deposited with EPF office. He also alleged that contractors are depositing EPF for only a few days, while deductions are made for entire month. The ex-MLA urged EPF Commissioner to conduct a thorough inquiry, take immedi ate action and ensure protection of workers’ rights.