Dera Prabhat Ranjan,
There is nothing in the Employees Provident Fund and Misc. provisions Act which empowers an employer to hold an employees request for withdrawal of funds whereas it is mandatory for the employer to send the withdrawal forms to the EPF authorities within reasonable time. If an employer refuses to sign and forward such forms (form 19 and form 10C or 10 D) the employee can send the forms directly to the EPF after getting his signatures in the forms attested by a gezetted officer, bank manager or such other persons so authorised by the EPFO.
What is renewal of contribution card? Do you mean the statement of contribution sent by the EPFO showing the particulars of contributions made during the year and the closing balance available in the PF?. If so, let me say that the same is prepared by the EPFO in line with the annual returns in form 6A and form 3 A return of contribution during the year of individual employees. Since these are mandatory returns the employer can not hold it. He can not hold the form 3 A of any individual employee. If he does so, the annual returns submitted will be returned.
Dear Vijay Kumar Singh,
Since you have not been in employment where Employees Provident Fund (not government provident fund) existed, when you join a private establishment where the EPF is applicable, you have to contribute to EPF. However, if you are more than 48 years of age at present you may not be getting Pension form the Provident Fund on your attaining the age of 58 years which is the pensiobale age fixed by the EPF presently. In such case, you will get withdrawal benefit and you can withdraw the pension fund contribution by the employer along with your share.
As per law the employer is expected to contribute 12% and in respect of an employee who is above 58 years the employer's share of contribution should be paid to Provident Fund only without deposting it as 8.33% to pension Fund and 3.67% to Provident Fund. There is no question of employee himself contributing 24% to his Provident Fund.
Regards,
Madhu.T.K