Surat: The Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI), in collaboration with the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO), organized an open house at Samahita Venue, Sarsana. Sudipta Ghosh, Additional Central PF Commissioner of Gujarat EPFO, was the chief guest, and Sanjay Singh Gurjar, Surat Regional PF Commissioner, was the special guest at the event.
In his welcome address, SGCCI President Vijay Mewawala stated that the purpose of the open house was to foster dialogue between various organizations in South Gujarat and the EPFO to resolve relevant issues. During the session, representatives from different organizations raised their queries related to provident fund matters, and received satisfactory responses from the officials.
On this occasion, EPFO officials shared details of several recent reforms and facilities, including:
- Auto Transfer Facility: Automatic transfer of PF balance when switching jobs
- Auto-mode Claim Processing: Immediate approval for advance claims up to ₹5 lakh
- EDLI Insurance Benefit: Up to ₹50,000 for employees with less than one year of service in case of death
- UAN Unblock Facility: Employees can now unblock their UAN on their own
- Jeevan Pramaan (Life Certificate): Pensioners can now submit their life certificate from home using the Aadhaar Face Authentication app
Additionally, the officials advised EPFO-registered institutions to promptly complete tasks such as updating digital signatures, UAN activation, and KYC updates. They also clarified that the responsibility for PF payments of contract workers lies with the principal employer.
A PowerPoint presentation was also delivered covering PF laws, benefits for both workers and employers, and responsibilities regarding contract labor. EPFO officials discussed the “Nidhi Aapke Nikat” (Funds at Your Doorstep) initiative, which is held on the 27th of every month in Surat, Navsari, and Tapi districts.
A significant achievement highlighted during the event was that the Surat EPFO office ranked 5th among over 150 PF offices across India for settling claims within 10 days. Impressively, 99.79% of claims are settled within 10 days and 56.85% within three days. The claim rejection rate is only 17%, which is below the national average.
SGCCI Honorary Secretary Nirav Mandalewala provided a detailed overview of the entire event. The occasion was also graced by SGPC President Nirav Rana, Surat Labour Law Bar Association President Nimesh Patel, and representatives from unions and the MSME sector. The session was moderated by Sohail Sawani, Chairman of the Chamber’s Labor Law Committee.
At the conclusion of the open house, EPFO officials assured attendees that they are open to meeting employers and union representatives personally during office hours to resolve their concerns. Such initiatives by the EPFO aim to enhance transparency and trust between workers and employers.
