Title : Need to review the decision to retain provident fund commutation and death compensation fund for cashew workers of Kerala under Provident Fund Pension Scheme.
SHRI KODIKKUNNIL SURESH (MAVELIKKARA): Sir, I would like to draw the attention of the hon. Minister of Labour and Employment, through you, Sir, about the problems being faced by the beneficiaries of Employees Provident Fund, particularly about the thousands of cashew workers of Kerala.
According to 1995 Pension Scheme, every member of the EPF is permitted to commute one third of their original pension. If they commute one third of their original pension, they can get minimum amount to 100 times. For example, if a person gets a pension of Rs. 600 and if he commutes the pension, he can get an amount of Rs. 20,000 as immediate benefit, which is for life time and that will not be recovered like in other Government department.
The members of EPF were also having the benefit of Return of Capita (ROC), which a member’s nominee can get 100 times of their original pension. If the member dies and if the member gets an original pension of Rs. 1,000/-, the nominee can get Rs. 1,00,000/- as immediate benefit.
But the Ministry of Labour, Government of India, vide their order dated 11.11.2008 have stopped both the above benefits w.e.f. 26.9.2008 to the beneficiaries which is against the interests of the EPF members. There is a genuine demand from the EPF members that this should be revoked immediately.
Keeping in view of the above, I urge upon the hon. Minister of Labour to look into the matter and revoke the 11.11.2008 order and restore the earlier benefits of members of EPF in the country, particularly to the thousands of cashew workers of Kerala.
MR. CHAIRMAN: The House now stands adjourned to meet again on July 23, 2009 at 11.00 a.m.
20.09 hrs. The Lok Sabha then adjourned till Eleven of the Clock
on Thursday, July 23, 2009/Sravana 1, 1931 (Saka).