Press Statement
20th
April 2016
EPFO Amendments:
Government should learn the lessons
Government of India has been forced to withdraw the
notifications, amending the rules for withdrawal of funds from EPFO. 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 workers 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 29th March
2016, all the trade union representatives demanded withdrawal of this
notification or to give an option to the workers to withdraw their money or to
continue to keep it in EPFO. The government is trying to mislead by saying that
the amendment on 10th February was done as per the suggestions of
some trade unions.
Denial of full withdrawal creates serious difficulties
to the workers, 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.
CITU congratulates the workers who have forced the
government to withdraw this unwanted amendment. It reiterates its demand that
the government should hold proper consultations with trade unions before taking
any policy decision that impacts the workers in any way.
Issued by,
(A K PADMANABHAN)
President
CITU
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