The PF establishment search page has not been working since December. Has this link/page been shifted to some other URL, or has EPFO completely disabled it?
Earlier, employees were able to determine whether their company was paying on time using this page. The principal employer also used to check whether the contractor was paying EPF to its workers or not. However, now this link is not working. Can somebody tell if there is any substitute for it?
Thank you
From India, Kolkata
Acknowledge(0)
Amend(0)
14Earlier, employees were able to determine whether their company was paying on time using this page. The principal employer also used to check whether the contractor was paying EPF to its workers or not. However, now this link is not working. Can somebody tell if there is any substitute for it?
Thank you
From India, Kolkata
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Employees can get a massage on their registered mobile when their PF for XXX month is credited. They can also check their passbook.
If you need specific information, please let us know. The new ECR system has a clear mandate in the challan to provide off-roll (contract labor) data as well. If the contractor fails to do so, action will be taken against them.
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
If you need specific information, please let us know. The new ECR system has a clear mandate in the challan to provide off-roll (contract labor) data as well. If the contractor fails to do so, action will be taken against them.
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
People hardly receive an SMS from EPFO regarding the amount being credited. In the last 5 years, I personally cannot remember receiving an SMS from EPFO more than 5 times, despite having a fully KYC-compliant UAN.
As far as the passbook is concerned, I have heard that these member portals do not get updated regularly. I was informed by one of our HR managers when I joined and inquired after 4 months as to why my new account number was not showing in my employee UAN portal two years back. She replied that they had processed it from their side, but it takes time to get updated and reflect in the member portal. I resorted to the establishment search to verify whether deposits were being made, and indeed, they were depositing every month. It was only that my UAN was not displaying that member account number. Suddenly, after a few months, it appeared on its own.
My understanding is that if I join a company now and they link it with my existing UAN, it may not be updated in my member portal immediately, I assume. I may not be able to see or check it for a few months based on my own experience.
I am unsure how these changes will take place now, though.
From India, Kolkata
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
As far as the passbook is concerned, I have heard that these member portals do not get updated regularly. I was informed by one of our HR managers when I joined and inquired after 4 months as to why my new account number was not showing in my employee UAN portal two years back. She replied that they had processed it from their side, but it takes time to get updated and reflect in the member portal. I resorted to the establishment search to verify whether deposits were being made, and indeed, they were depositing every month. It was only that my UAN was not displaying that member account number. Suddenly, after a few months, it appeared on its own.
My understanding is that if I join a company now and they link it with my existing UAN, it may not be updated in my member portal immediately, I assume. I may not be able to see or check it for a few months based on my own experience.
I am unsure how these changes will take place now, though.
From India, Kolkata
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
EPFO has a dedicated number to check your EPF balance. Grab your mobile and save this number: 011 22 901 406. It may not be a fancy number, but it is very useful as you can get your EPF balance by giving a missed call to this number.
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Upon joining a new employer, it will not reflect immediately unless the employer verifies the same with DSC. Even after digital verification, the department takes its own time to link the old accounts with the present. It takes up to 3 weeks after digital verification by the employer.
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Dear Mr. Sharma,
I'm not talking about consolidating old accounts into one. Earlier, if an employee joins an organization with an existing UAN, the employer links it, but the employee can see it only after a few months in his member portal. Is this the same now? If I join a new organization, I'll give my existing UAN to link. Will the employer link it immediately? After how many days will I be able to see it in my member portal? Does it still take weeks, if not months, or will it show in my member portal immediately?
From India, Kolkata
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
I'm not talking about consolidating old accounts into one. Earlier, if an employee joins an organization with an existing UAN, the employer links it, but the employee can see it only after a few months in his member portal. Is this the same now? If I join a new organization, I'll give my existing UAN to link. Will the employer link it immediately? After how many days will I be able to see it in my member portal? Does it still take weeks, if not months, or will it show in my member portal immediately?
From India, Kolkata
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Linking neither confirms employment nor confirms that data is verified. Let the employer either verify the same with DSC or make at least one payment to the linked UAN. Most of the linked UANs have missing Aadhar data verification or PAN verification, which should be verified with the departmental portals. It is submitted by SRO/RO batch-wise to the concerned departments.
If you have doubts, then open your own UAN member portal and look at Aadhar/PAN status where it is displaying "verified," and on the next, a button appears "demographic verification." Click that to verify, and you can understand the system of EPFO verification. However, on confirmed first payment from the employer, the new employer would get visible on the member portal.
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
If you have doubts, then open your own UAN member portal and look at Aadhar/PAN status where it is displaying "verified," and on the next, a button appears "demographic verification." Click that to verify, and you can understand the system of EPFO verification. However, on confirmed first payment from the employer, the new employer would get visible on the member portal.
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Ok, got it. Thank you.
But then, if linking alone doesn't imply employment, why is it that when an employer links its establishment code with a UAN, the previous employment of that employee becomes untagged from the UAN automatically? Until the employer verifies it with DSC or uploads an ECR, the previous employment should remain tagged.
It appears that you have a wealth of information in this area, and you are an expert in this field.
Thanks for your insights, which have helped me gain a better understanding of EPFO.
From India, Kolkata
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
But then, if linking alone doesn't imply employment, why is it that when an employer links its establishment code with a UAN, the previous employment of that employee becomes untagged from the UAN automatically? Until the employer verifies it with DSC or uploads an ECR, the previous employment should remain tagged.
It appears that you have a wealth of information in this area, and you are an expert in this field.
Thanks for your insights, which have helped me gain a better understanding of EPFO.
From India, Kolkata
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
If the employer does not make payment in the next ECR of the linked new linked UAN, then the employer will get SCN, and the linked UAN would be free for getting linked for the next employer.
Under CLRA (Contract Labour), a single employee works for more than one employer often. The new system allows the allocation of working days of the employee so that no employee can enjoy dual employment at any single time slot.
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Under CLRA (Contract Labour), a single employee works for more than one employer often. The new system allows the allocation of working days of the employee so that no employee can enjoy dual employment at any single time slot.
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Ok. At any point in time, two establishment codes cannot remain active in a single UAN, so dual employment is absolutely not possible.
But I guess if an employer uploads one ECR against a UAN where an employee has recently joined, the employee can see this employment in his member portal service history immediately, maybe within a week post uploading ECR. It shouldn't take more time than this.
From India, Kolkata
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
But I guess if an employer uploads one ECR against a UAN where an employee has recently joined, the employee can see this employment in his member portal service history immediately, maybe within a week post uploading ECR. It shouldn't take more time than this.
From India, Kolkata
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
There may be dozens of previous employers, so does it matter? For a week's time, one person got employed at one establishment, and simultaneously, he got employed in four establishments in all four weeks. He is a member of all establishments unless the ECR is paid, but after the completion of ECR, the employer has to click the exit option. If the employee already switched, then it would show "no more employee with you"; otherwise, EXIT should be submitted.
And yes, all four would submit his contribution for different time slots. Here, if any employer links the UAN at payment time instead of the actual joining time, then he would be termed as the last employer, and the department will deem that the employee is continuing with that employer.
Just imagine that some person worked from 01/01/2017 to 10/01/2017, and the HR department seeds his UAN just before making ECR, i.e., 5th Feb. Then how can he be able to make an exit on 10/01/2017, as the system will not allow him to make the entry on the date before the joining entry.
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
And yes, all four would submit his contribution for different time slots. Here, if any employer links the UAN at payment time instead of the actual joining time, then he would be termed as the last employer, and the department will deem that the employee is continuing with that employer.
Just imagine that some person worked from 01/01/2017 to 10/01/2017, and the HR department seeds his UAN just before making ECR, i.e., 5th Feb. Then how can he be able to make an exit on 10/01/2017, as the system will not allow him to make the entry on the date before the joining entry.
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Hi, Mr. Sharma,
I have one more query. I know we can check the active members' service history. But if somebody leaves our organization today, can we see them in the active members' field? Can we trace their whereabouts or where they have joined from using their UAN details? The active member section shows the service history of active members only. How can we get the details of employees who have already left but were our employees until 10 days ago?
Thank you.
From India, Kolkata
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
I have one more query. I know we can check the active members' service history. But if somebody leaves our organization today, can we see them in the active members' field? Can we trace their whereabouts or where they have joined from using their UAN details? The active member section shows the service history of active members only. How can we get the details of employees who have already left but were our employees until 10 days ago?
Thank you.
From India, Kolkata
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
under active members details, put the UAN in Member service details, it will display
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
So, for the employee who left my company on 15th January and joined another organization on the very next day, can I see his employment details in the active member section? However, nothing is showing there.
Can we check the employments of the ex-employees from the Active Member section? They are not active members of my establishment anymore!
From India, Kolkata
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Can we check the employments of the ex-employees from the Active Member section? They are not active members of my establishment anymore!
From India, Kolkata
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
And one more question, please. Maybe this is the last one. :-)
As you have stated earlier, unless an employer uploads the ECR for an employee, the employment is not confirmed from an HR perspective.
So, the employee cannot see this company in his own member portal until the employer uploads the ECR. After uploading, the employee can see it in his portal. Right?
Is this rule the same for the employer? I mean, I can check the service history details of my employees and also see the current employers of those employees who have already left. But in this case, unless the employer uploads the ECR, the employment is not confirmed, so I can see the current employer only if the employer has uploaded the ECR, otherwise not. Right?
Suppose A has left my company on the 15th and joined another on the 18th of January. His present employer has definitely linked his UAN with their establishment code by now, but has not uploaded any ECR for him yet. So, neither he can see that employer in his member portal, nor can I see his current employer in my employer portal through member search or active members. Isn't that right? Only his current employer can see it. Please tell me.
You have already clarified loads of my doubts, and thank you very much for that. I have already bookmarked this conversation in my browser as I might need it in the future to refer to.
From India, Kolkata
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
As you have stated earlier, unless an employer uploads the ECR for an employee, the employment is not confirmed from an HR perspective.
So, the employee cannot see this company in his own member portal until the employer uploads the ECR. After uploading, the employee can see it in his portal. Right?
Is this rule the same for the employer? I mean, I can check the service history details of my employees and also see the current employers of those employees who have already left. But in this case, unless the employer uploads the ECR, the employment is not confirmed, so I can see the current employer only if the employer has uploaded the ECR, otherwise not. Right?
Suppose A has left my company on the 15th and joined another on the 18th of January. His present employer has definitely linked his UAN with their establishment code by now, but has not uploaded any ECR for him yet. So, neither he can see that employer in his member portal, nor can I see his current employer in my employer portal through member search or active members. Isn't that right? Only his current employer can see it. Please tell me.
You have already clarified loads of my doubts, and thank you very much for that. I have already bookmarked this conversation in my browser as I might need it in the future to refer to.
From India, Kolkata
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
There are many HR professionals who upload bulk UANs and thereafter mark them as left service, with zero days of payment. You may have read about several instances regarding the issue of multiple UAN linking in Excel software searches.
Earlier, a similar issue was faced by the ESIC department, where the employer requested the IP number via mobile and verbally linked it to another person's IP, causing trouble for the actual IP holder. The affected individual had to request their original employer to re-enter the correct details and issue a TIC.
Currently, both departments are collaborating through a unified portal at Shram Suvidha, enabling the submission of a combined return for ESIC and EPF. EPFO has implemented a strict rule that an Aadhaar number is mandatory for an EPF account, meaning that merely providing a UAN number is insufficient for employers to link accounts; additional information is required.
During this transitional period, some employees may encounter difficulties, but in the long run, HR personnel must be diligent in their responsibilities. Failure to do so may lead to departments initiating random vigilance visits and taking penal action against non-compliant establishments.
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Earlier, a similar issue was faced by the ESIC department, where the employer requested the IP number via mobile and verbally linked it to another person's IP, causing trouble for the actual IP holder. The affected individual had to request their original employer to re-enter the correct details and issue a TIC.
Currently, both departments are collaborating through a unified portal at Shram Suvidha, enabling the submission of a combined return for ESIC and EPF. EPFO has implemented a strict rule that an Aadhaar number is mandatory for an EPF account, meaning that merely providing a UAN number is insufficient for employers to link accounts; additional information is required.
During this transitional period, some employees may encounter difficulties, but in the long run, HR personnel must be diligent in their responsibilities. Failure to do so may lead to departments initiating random vigilance visits and taking penal action against non-compliant establishments.
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
More than a dozen cases I have handled involved individuals who left their jobs in November and joined another establishment in December. A few of them made early payments by the 5th of January, receiving SMS notifications on their old UANs. Although there are new UANs for some employees who joined in October and November, we still recommend adding the older UAN if it is KYC compliant and Aadhaar seeded. Their service history is showing accurately in both locations. Some employees have yet to file ECR, so how will the department determine if the employees were added by HR for legitimate reasons?
In this scenario, most bulk seeded UANs might exit with zero payout due to incorrect seeding. The department is monitoring such establishments closely, acknowledging that manual errors can occur. However, adding numerous individuals and allowing them to exit without receiving payouts is being closely monitored.
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
In this scenario, most bulk seeded UANs might exit with zero payout due to incorrect seeding. The department is monitoring such establishments closely, acknowledging that manual errors can occur. However, adding numerous individuals and allowing them to exit without receiving payouts is being closely monitored.
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Ok, understood. But sir, my question was unless ECR is uploaded, the employee cannot see the employer's name in his own portal as you have stated earlier. Is this the same with the ex-employer? If A left my organization on the 15th and joined another one on the 18th of January, since his new employer has not uploaded an ECR for him, he cannot see this new employer in his own member portal. However, as his ex-employer, can I also see where he has joined now? Or are the viewing rights a bit flexible towards the employer, and even though his new employer has not uploaded ECR yet, can I see where he joined? Provided Aadhar was there and the new employer also used Aadhar while linking.
From India, Kolkata
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
From India, Kolkata
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
after 1st payment or digital verification the service history will be available to both, or to all employers under the same UAN, this is for ease of payment of arrears ( if any)
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
I guess for those who have left in November but the employer is yet to file ECR, the employer cannot do it now. There is no way he can do it now.
I have even seen some companies hold PF deposit till the time full and final settlement is not finalized though FNF has got nothing to do with EPFO. But by the previous company finalized it and is going to deposit the PF amount the employee is already linked with another company. And if the previous company tries to relink it once again, the present employer gets untagged. Also, the employee will come under dual employment then because the previous employer cannot make an exit before the registration date. I don't know how EPFO is going to address these issues.
UAN should be generated and given within a week of joining now. This should be the new rule; otherwise, there will be trouble for employees.
From India, Kolkata
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
I have even seen some companies hold PF deposit till the time full and final settlement is not finalized though FNF has got nothing to do with EPFO. But by the previous company finalized it and is going to deposit the PF amount the employee is already linked with another company. And if the previous company tries to relink it once again, the present employer gets untagged. Also, the employee will come under dual employment then because the previous employer cannot make an exit before the registration date. I don't know how EPFO is going to address these issues.
UAN should be generated and given within a week of joining now. This should be the new rule; otherwise, there will be trouble for employees.
From India, Kolkata
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
There is no need to relink; they can pay for November's contribution without relinking. However, if they want to pay it with January ECR, then there will be chaos. The department has warned several times that non-deposit of "employee's contribution" is a cognizable offense. The employer can withhold his contribution partially, but he cannot withhold the employee's share.
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Yes, but they can pay with November contribution until 15th December. Once the employee left in November and joined another organization in December, and this new employer has already linked his UAN and paid ECR on 9th January, then the ex-employee cannot all of a sudden decide to pay the PF because by that time the employee is already out and has joined a new company. The previous company cannot upload the ECR then.
This has actually happened: a guy in Hyderabad joined us on 28th November after leaving his old company. He had some tussle going on with his old company. So, neither they gave him FNF nor deposited the PF. We didn't know about the PF part, though; we only knew about the FNF problem. Anyways, we linked him with us, uploaded ECR in January, and now after we uploaded the ECR, the previous employer of that guy wanted to give him PF all of a sudden. And since that company was already out of his UAN, they had relinked themselves, and now we are stuck.
So, it's chaos. Don't know how to solve it. Have already mailed several times to EPFO but have not received any response yet.
From India, Kolkata
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
This has actually happened: a guy in Hyderabad joined us on 28th November after leaving his old company. He had some tussle going on with his old company. So, neither they gave him FNF nor deposited the PF. We didn't know about the PF part, though; we only knew about the FNF problem. Anyways, we linked him with us, uploaded ECR in January, and now after we uploaded the ECR, the previous employer of that guy wanted to give him PF all of a sudden. And since that company was already out of his UAN, they had relinked themselves, and now we are stuck.
So, it's chaos. Don't know how to solve it. Have already mailed several times to EPFO but have not received any response yet.
From India, Kolkata
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Ask the employee to send a notice to the Labour Commissioner evidencing that the company is not paying him the salary of December. This is because they are showing the EPF in December ECR, which means the person was working in December with that employer.
This is enough to drag the company at once. Though, after a few hearings, he will get ultimate relief, he would learn a lesson, and would not delay employees' money payout.
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
This is enough to drag the company at once. Though, after a few hearings, he will get ultimate relief, he would learn a lesson, and would not delay employees' money payout.
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
That would be a better idea. An employee left our organization 13 days ago and joined another one; we have not marked the exit yet. However, his details and his UAN are still showing in our active members' list. Is this normal? If his new employer links him, he should be removed from our active member list, shouldn't he?
From India, Kolkata
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
From India, Kolkata
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Unless the new employer approves his documents digitally or the first payment is made in this UAN, the UAN will remain in the previous employer's list. If you want to test, try marking the exit of the specific UAN; it will display that the employee does not belong to the establishment. Keeping oneself active in the old employer portal is just related to past unpaid ECR dues (if any) or any arrears payment.
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Yes, you are right; I just tried that. But that specific UAN doesn't have his father's name mentioned, and I tried to update his father's name, but couldn't do so. He is in my active member list, but I'm unable to change any details of his UAN anymore.
From India, Kolkata
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
From India, Kolkata
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
at new employer end, missing details are updated, including the gross salary, but unless 1st contribution is confirmed, the updates will not get executed.
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Sir, if a person joined in November and left in the same month, and if the employer didn't pay his PF by the 15th of December and also didn't link his UAN (however, UAN linking was disabled then), the employer cannot upload the ECR for that person now. The employer has to link his UAN first in order to upload ECR, and linking now means his current employer (wherever he's working now) will get unlinked. At least, that was what I knew.
But today, while having a discussion with a person who happens to be the owner of a company that handles these tasks for many organizations in the WB, Jharkhand, and Sikkim area, he told me that in the current system, backdated linking is not possible. The employer is supposed to link the moment an employee joins, not before uploading ECR.
So, if an employee joined and left in November, and if his then employer didn't upload his ECR by the 15th of December, and if his new employer has already linked him and uploaded ECR for December by the 20th of January, then the previous employer cannot link it backdated, showing the joining date in November. Because the current employer has already submitted another ECR, the previous employer cannot forcefully link it now; it will show an error message.
Please tell me, is this right? Has EPFO disabled any such thing and issued any notification that UAN has to be provided upfront?
From India, Kolkata
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
But today, while having a discussion with a person who happens to be the owner of a company that handles these tasks for many organizations in the WB, Jharkhand, and Sikkim area, he told me that in the current system, backdated linking is not possible. The employer is supposed to link the moment an employee joins, not before uploading ECR.
So, if an employee joined and left in November, and if his then employer didn't upload his ECR by the 15th of December, and if his new employer has already linked him and uploaded ECR for December by the 20th of January, then the previous employer cannot link it backdated, showing the joining date in November. Because the current employer has already submitted another ECR, the previous employer cannot forcefully link it now; it will show an error message.
Please tell me, is this right? Has EPFO disabled any such thing and issued any notification that UAN has to be provided upfront?
From India, Kolkata
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
I knew that the previous employer can do that, but it would be troublesome for both the employers and employee as his current employment will get unlinked. However, this person told me that doing so is not even possible. The EPFO employer portal will not allow you to add that employee under such circumstances.
He informed me that at the time of linking, when we input the joining date, the date has to be of this month or last month. In this case, if someone wants to link an employee who left in November and joined also in November, he cannot do it. This is because either he has to show a joining date of January or December, provided some other employer has been linked and uploaded an ECR already, precisely for the month in between.
Is that true? That is my question.
From India, Kolkata
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
He informed me that at the time of linking, when we input the joining date, the date has to be of this month or last month. In this case, if someone wants to link an employee who left in November and joined also in November, he cannot do it. This is because either he has to show a joining date of January or December, provided some other employer has been linked and uploaded an ECR already, precisely for the month in between.
Is that true? That is my question.
From India, Kolkata
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
No Aadhaar, no EPF concept was informed to all employers well in advance, and seminars were conducted to educate the employers and HRs to make them understand that the employee would be linked to the portal immediately after joining.
Under the ESIC, if an employee joins on the 11th of January 2017 and meets with an accident or injury on the 16th of January, but the employer has not registered him on the portal, in this case, the linking or registration after the date of the incident disallows the benefits of ESIC. The department will not consider that he was under employment since the 11th.
The exact same provision is present under EPF under the EDLI section, where if an employee deceases during service, then EPFO pays the insurance amount. If the employer has not linked the employee on time, then the EDLI claim would not be entertained.
Now it is up to the employer to either perform his job within time or face troubles with the labor department.
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)
Under the ESIC, if an employee joins on the 11th of January 2017 and meets with an accident or injury on the 16th of January, but the employer has not registered him on the portal, in this case, the linking or registration after the date of the incident disallows the benefits of ESIC. The department will not consider that he was under employment since the 11th.
The exact same provision is present under EPF under the EDLI section, where if an employee deceases during service, then EPFO pays the insurance amount. If the employer has not linked the employee on time, then the EDLI claim would not be entertained.
Now it is up to the employer to either perform his job within time or face troubles with the labor department.
Acknowledge(0)Amend(0)Join Our Community and get connected with the right people who can help. Our AI-powered platform provides real-time fact-checking, peer-reviewed insights, and a vast historical knowledge base to support your search.
Payment of PF after closure of establishment 23.5.12.pdf