464 schools defaulted on payment of PF dues: Parliament

NEW DELHI: As many as 464 schools in the country including 8 in Delhi, failed to deposit provident fund contributions with retirement fund body Employees' Provident Fund Organisation ( EPFO) on time, Parliament was informed today.

However, 230 such schools later complied and deposit the dues.

"A total number of 464 schools in various parts of the country (including 8 in Delhi) have failed to deposit provident fund contribution after deducting the same from the salary," Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya said in written reply to Lok Sabha.

He said the EPFO's field offices have issued notices to 464 schools which defaulted on payment of PF dues.

"230 such schools have complied with the direction of EPFO and an amount of Rs 541.61 lakh has been deposited to the fund," the Minister said adding 234 schools have not complied with the direction of EPFO.

He said,"actions (against these 234 schools) as envisaged under the EPF & MP Act and the schemes framed thereunder for assessment of dues and recovery thereof have been initiated against these schools."

Meanwhile in reply to another query, the Minister said that at present no proposal to open regional office or to upgrade any office to regional office is being considered by the executive committee of the EPFO.

He said a proposal to reduce threshold limit for coverage under EPF & MP Act from 20 to 10 employees is included in the proposed comprehensive amendment to the Act.