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The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) of India was established in the year 1952 consequent to the enactment of the Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952. This is one of the largest social security organisations in the world in terms of members and volume of financial transactions that it has been carrying on. The Organisation is administered by the Central Board of Trustees, comprising of representatives of the Government of India, provincial governments, employers and employees. The Board is chaired by the Union Labour Minister of India. The Chief Executive of the EPFO, the Central Provident Fund Commissioner, reports to the Union Labour Minister through the Permanent Secretary in the ministry. The head office of the Organisation is at New Delhi. [1].

The Constitution of India under "Directive Principles of State Policy" provides that the State shall within the limits of its economic capacity make effective provision for securing the right to work, to education and to public assistance in cases of unemployment, old-age, sickness & disablement and undeserved want. The EPF & MP Act, 1952 was enacted by Parliament and came into force with effect from 14th March,1952 as part of a series of legislative interventions made in this direction. Presently, the following three schemes are in operation under the Act:

1. Employees' Provident Fund Scheme, 1952
2. Employees' Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme, 1976
3. Employees' Pension Scheme, 1995 (replacing the Employees' Family Pension Scheme, 1971)

The total financial corpus managed by the EPFO is in excess of Rs. 2000 billion ($45 billion) and there are a total of about 40 million contributing and non contributing members in about 450000 covered establishments.

Membership is compulsory for employees in establishments coming under the purview of the statute. As per provisions in force almost any establishment in India is required to have a registration with the basic criterion being employment of 20 or more persons. Contribution is at present 12% employee's share and the employer's share totalling 13.61% of the wages of the employees. Among the many benefits offered in addition to the compulsory Provident Fund (where the present rate of interest is 8.5%) are service Pension on retirement, death or disablement and a lumpsum insurance payout in case of death of the member, to his nominee/family.

The EPFO has the dual role of being the service provider to the members as well as the enforcement agency to oversee the implementation of the EPF& MP Act throughout the country. To this end the Commissioners of the Organisation are vested with vast powers under the statute conferring quasi- judicial authority for search and seizure of records, assesment of financial liability on the employer, levy of damages, attachment and auction of a defaulter's property, prosecution and arrest and detention in civil prison.

Administratively, the Organisation is Organised into 4 zones at Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta and Madras each of which is headed by an Additional Central Provident Fund Commissioner. The zones are divided into Regions headed by Regional PF Commissioners which are further sub- divided into Sub- Regions headed by junior grade Regional PF Commissioners or Assistant Commissioners. Most of the districts in the country have small district offices where an Enforcement Officer is stationed to inspect the local establishments and attend to member/ employer grievances.

The total manpower of the EPFO is at present almost 20000 including all levels. The Commissioner cadre numbering 650 are recruited directly, competitively, through the Union Public Service Commission of India as well as through promotion from lower ranks. Subordinate Officers (Enforcement Officers/ Accounts Officers) are also recruited directly in addition to promotion from the staff cadre of social security assistants.

• EPFO's Main website
• EPFO Kerala state website
• EPFO Vashi website
• EPFO Rohtak
• EPFO Chennai website
• Social Security Now - social security campaign in India

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