How Can We Address the Lack of PF Benefits in Our Company and Seek Help?

Dear Sir,

I have been working in an organization for more than one and a half years. The organization has a staff of over 20 employees, but they have not provided PF benefits to the employees till today. My team mates and I have approached them to address this issue, but they seem least bothered about it. I kindly request guidance on how to lodge a complaint against the promoters of the company.

I humbly request information on the benefits that employees can avail from their employers.

Thank you.

Approach the nearest PF commissioner for getting redressal of this problem.

Of course, your employer will not like your approaching the Commissioner. But one has to take action to get laws implemented if they are not following the law voluntarily.

There are many employees who are deprived today, even in the organized sector in metros, of their rights to social security. They are paid much less than minimum wage rates, with no PF, ESI, or Gratuity benefits. Many employers even engage white-collar employees on third-party payrolls, offering no job security.

Historical Decision on Labor Licenses

Recently, I came across a historical decision in which the Maharashtra Government directed the Labour Commissioner to cancel labor licenses issued by its office for the past 42 years. The company had employed over 500 workers through contracts for various roles such as operators, fitters, welders, job checkers, electricians, lab assistants, experts, senior experts, etc., with the approval of the officers of the Labour Commissioner.

This is the only known case where an employer was stopped from such unfair practices. There are many other employers who continue these practices with the approval of the Labour Commissioner's office. Similarly, there are numerous companies that operate with the support of officers from the PF and ESI departments.

Call to Action

Our forum should take steps to prevent such practices.

Lodging a Complaint and Applying the PF Scheme

You wish to lodge a complaint, and secondly, how will you make the PF scheme applicable? Directly, your involvement will be harmful. You will find in your career ahead that there are multiple things happening, but legally and ethically, there should be more and more applications. You need to communicate and try to escalate problems by virtue of your position in HR. Doing and not doing are separate things. Your employer should know the consequences of what you made him aware of; it's your limit. This forum has no administrative role to correct defaulting employers. But it's certain that employers defaulting or flouting rules most of the time save themselves very smartly, and actions are certainly taken against well-wishers like you.