MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS (Department of Posts) (DIRECTORATE OF POSTAL LIFE INSURANCE)
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 31st March, 2020
F. No. 04-01/2019-LI.—In exercise of powers conferred vide Rule 3 of Post Office Life Insurance Rules (2011) and on the basis of Actuarial Valuation of the assets and liabilities of Post Office Life Insurance Fund (POLIF) as on 31.03.2017, 31.03.2018 and 31.03.2019, the Director General (Posts) is pleased to declare a simple Reversionary Bonus on the Postal Life Insurance Policies on their becoming claims, due to death or maturity at the following rates:
Type of Insurance Policy
Rate of Bonus
i. Whole Life Assurance (WLA)
Rs. 85/- per thousand of sum assured
ii. Endowment Assurance (EA)
(including Joint life & children policies)
Rs. 58/- per thousand of sum assured
iii. Anticipated Endowment Assurance (AEA)
Rs. 53/- per thousand of sum assured
iv. Convertible Whole Life Policies (CWA)
Whole Life bonus rate would be applicable, but on conversion, Endowment Assurance bonus rate will be applicable
v. Terminal Bonus
Rs. 20/- per sum assured of Rs. 10,000/- subject to maximum of Rs. 1000 for Whole life assurance and Endowment assurance policies with term of 20 years or more.
2. The rates of Bonus for Financial Years 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20 will be applicable from the date of Notification by the Circles and this will also be applicable to claim cases received but not settled till the date of receipt of this Notification.
3. Interim Bonus at the rates mentioned above will also be payable for all claims arising due to maturity or death until future valuation is completed.
4. The amount of Bonus involving a fraction of 50 paisa or more shall be rounded off to the next higher Rupee and fraction below 50 paisa shall be ignored.
LAXMI NARAYAN SHARMA, Chief General Manager (PLI)
(Equivalent to the Rank of Addl. Secy.)
Ministry of Labour and Employment has set up 20 control rooms under the Office of Chief Labour Commissioner (CLC) (C) on pan India basis due to issues arising in the backdrop of Covid-19. These control rooms have been set up for following purposes.
To address wage related grievances of workers employed in Central Sphere.
To mitigate the problems of migrant workers through coordination with various state governments.
These call centers can be accessed by the workers through Phone numbers, Whatsapp and Emails. These control rooms are being managed by Labour Enforcement Officers, Assistant Labour commissioners, Regional Labour Commissioners, and Deputy Chief Labour Commissioners of the respective regions. The functioning of all 20 call centers are being monitored and supervised by Chief Labour Commissioner (C) of Head Quarter on daily basis.
All the concerned officers/officials have been advised to adopt a humane approach to assist the aggrieved workmen to the maximum possible extent and ensure delivery of timely relief to the needy ones.
The region wise details of officers/officials, WORKERS HELPLINE numbers and email ids and details of officials are annexed.
Fit India and CBSE organise first-ever live fitness sessions for school students in the second phase of lockdown, guidelines of Ministry of Ayush to be shared
Live sessions will commence from 15th April 2020 at 9:30 am, students can get access to these live sessions on Facebook and Instagram handles of Fit India Movement and CBSE
Students across the country will be gainfully engaged to keep fit during the lockdown with live fitness sessions: Shri Pokhriyal
After the massive response to the live fitness sessions under Fit India Active Day programme launched by Fit India, the Government of India’s flagship fitness movement is yet again set to start a new series of fitness sessions. This time it willbe organised in partnership with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) for school children from across the country. During the programme guidelines of Ministry of AYUSH to stay healthy will be shared with students.
Talking about this first-of-a-kind initiative,Union Minister for Human Resource Development Shri Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ said, “CBSE has supported the Fit India Movement right from its initiation. 13868 CBSE schools have been part of several Fit India programmes in the past and 11682 CBSE schools have already got the Fit India flag. Now, with this unique endeavour I am confident that students across the country will not just be gainfully engaged during the lockdown but will also be motivated to take up fitness and healthy living as a way of life, which is the vision of our Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.”
Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Shri Kiren Rijiju feels that the online sessions are the need of the hour. He said, “Children are all at home with limited physical activity. These sessions by fitness experts will ensure that children practice fitness even when at home. It is also imperative at these times to ensure that everyone, especially children remain healthy and have strong immunity. In these sessions, besides fitness-related topics, the guidelines of the Ministry of Ayush, with regard to following simple steps to increase immunity will also be discussed. I am sure children and parents will benefit greatly from these rich sessions.”
Owing to the nation-wide lockdown due to Covid19 up to May 3rd and following Prime Minister’s call to all citizens to increase immunity and stay healthy, Fit India and CBSE have taken this unique initiative to ensure fitness of all school children. Besides sessions on fitness-related issues, guidelines of the Ministry of Ayush on ways to build immunity and stay healthy during this time will also be shared with students.
Commencing from 15th April 2020 at 9:30 am, students can easily get access to these live sessions on the Facebook and Instagram handles of Fit India Movement and CBSE. All the sessions will also be available on YouTube so that students can access it at their convenience as well.
The live sessions will cover all aspects of children’s fitness from daily workouts to yoga, nutrition to emotional well-being. Distinguished fitness experts like Aliya Imran, nutritionist Puja Makhija, emotional wellness expert Dr. Jitendra Nagpal, yoga professional Heena Bhimani and several others would be a part of the sessions.
Live streaming would also be available on the social media handles of CBSE, GOQii and Shilpa Shetty App.
All passenger train services cancelled till 3rd May 2020 in view of COVID 19 lockdown
All ticket counters for bookings including UTS & PRS , will remain suspended till further orders
No advance reservation of train tickets, including E tickets, till further advice, however, facility of online cancellation will remain functional
Full refund for reservation made for the trains cancelled.
Full refund will also be there for those cancelling the advance bookings of tickets for trains not yet cancelled
In continuation of the measures taken in the wake of COVID-19 Lockdown, it has been decided that all passenger train services on Indian Railways including Premium trains, Mail/Express trains, Passenger trains, Suburban Trains, Kolkata Metro Rail, Konkan Railway etc shall continue to remain cancelled till 3rd May 2020.
To ensure the essential supplies in various parts of the country, movement of goods and Parcel trains will continue.
No booking of any type of tickets, including E tickets shall be done till further advice. However, facility of online cancellation will remain functional for ticket bookings.
All counters for ticket booking for UTS & PRS will remain closed till further orders.
Full refund will be given for tickets for the bookings made for the trains cancelled.
Full refund will also be there for those cancelling the advance bookings of tickets for trains not yet cancelled.
As far as trains cancelled upto 3rd May 2020 is concerned, the refunds would be automatically remitted by the Railways online to the customers while those who have booked across the counters, refund can be taken upto 31st July, 2020.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, in his address to the Nation on April 14, 2020, declared that the lockdown in India will have to be extended till May 3, 2020, with a view to arrest the spread of COVID-19 in the country. Prime Minister also declared that select necessary activities will be allowed to be opened up from April 20, 2020, in identified areas of the country.
In pursuance of the announcements of the Prime Minister, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued an order dated April 14, 2020, extending the lockdown in India till May 3, 2020. Further, MHA issued another Order, dated April 15, 2020, to allow select additional activities in areas not demarcated as containment zones by States/ UTs/ District Administrations.
Along with the Order dated April 15, 2020, consolidated revised guidelines have been issued, delineating the prohibited activities across the country, activities allowed in containment zones, and select permitted activities allowed from April 20, 2020 in the rest of the country.
The objective of the revised guidelines is to consolidate the gains achieved during the 1st phase of lockdown and further slow down the spread of Covid 19 and at the same time provide relief to farmers, labourers and daily wage earners
The activities prohibited across the country include travel by air, rail and road; operation of educational and training institutions; industrial and commercial activities; hospitality services; all cinema halls, shopping complexes, theatres, etc., all social, political and other events, and opening of all religious places/ places of worship for members of public, including religious congregations.
There are certain national guidelines like mandatory home-made face covers at work places and in public places ,strong hygiene and health care measures like provision of sanitisers , staggered shifts , access control , thermal screening and imposing fines for spitting etc. penalties will be imposed for violation.
The activities permitted under the revised guidelines, from April 20, 2020 will not be allowed within the containment zones as demarcated by States/ UTs/ District Administrations, as per the guidelines of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHF&W). In these zones, no unchecked inward/ outward movement of population would be allowed, except for maintaining essential services, i.e., medical emergencies and law & order duties, and government business continuity.
Very strong containment measures will be implemented in the hotspot districts accounting for large number of Covid 19 cases or with fast growth of cases. Detailed guidelines on delineation of containment zones and containment measures have also been issued. Only essential services are to be permitted in these zones and strict perimeter control and strict restrictions on movement enforced.
The permitted activities from April 20, 2020 are aimed at ensuring that agricultural and related activities remain fully functional, the rural economy functions with maximum efficiency, employment opportunities are created for daily wage earners and other members of the labour force, select industrial activities are allowed to resume their operations, with adequate safeguards and mandatory standard operating protocols (SOPs) and the digital economy. At the same time, keeping the imperative of containing the spread of COVID-19 in the country, National Directives for COVID-19 management have been laid down, which shall be enforced by the District Magistrates through fines and penal action as prescribed in the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
Transportation of goods will be permitted without any distinction of essential or non essential. Farming operations, including procurement of agricultural products, agriculture marketing through notified Mandis and direct and decentralized marketing, manufacture, distribution and retail of fertilizers, pesticides and seeds; activities of marine and inland fisheries; animal husbandry activities, including the supply chain of milk, milk products, poultry and live-stock farming; and tea, coffee and rubber plantations are allowed to be functional.
To provide an impetus to the rural economy, industries operating in rural areas, including food processing industries; construction of roads, irrigation projects, buildings and industrial projects in rural areas; works under MNREGA, with priority to irrigation and water conservation works; and operation of rural Common Service Centres (CSCs) have all been allowed. These activities will create job opportunities for rural labor, including the migrant labor force.
Manufacturing and other industrial establishments with access control have been permitted in SEZs, EoUs, industrial estates and industrial townships after implementation of SOP for social distancing. Manufacture of IT hardware and of essential goods and packagings are also allowed. Coal, mineral and oil production are permitted activities. It is expected that the industrial and manufacturing sectors will see a revival with these measures, and will create job opportunities while maintaining safety protocols and social distancing. At the same time, the important components of the financial sector, e.g., RBI, banks, ATMs, capital and debt markets as notified by SEBI and insurance companies will also remain functional, with a view to provide enough liquidity and credit support to the industrial sectors.
Digital economy is critical to the services sector and is important for national growth. Accordingly, e-commerce operations, operations of IT and IT enabled services, data and call centres for Government activities, and online teaching and distance learning are all permitted activities now.
The revised guidelines also permit all health services and the social sector to remain functional; public utilities to function without any hindrance; the supply chain of essential goods to operate without any hindrance; and, important offices of Central and State Governments and local bodies to remain open with required strength.
In sum, the revised consolidated guidelines are aimed at operating those sectors of the economy which are critical from the perspective of rural and agricultural development and job creation, while maintaining strict protocols in areas where safety is paramount to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the country.
Meeting is being held by Cabinet Secretary with state Chief Secretaries and DGPs to discuss smooth and effective implementation of revised guidelines that were issued earlier in the morning today. Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Union Home Secretary and Union Health Secretary are also present.
All Collectors, SPs municipal commissioners and civil surgeons are also participating in the conference.
ESIC Further Extends Period for Filing ESI Contribution
3.49 Crore IPs and 12,11,174 Employers to be Benefitted
Purchase of Medicines from Private Chemists Permitted during Lockdown
The country is dealing with a very challenging situation due to COVID-19 Pandemic. Many establishments are temporarily closed and workers are unable to work. In line with the relief measures being extended by Government to business entities and workers, Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has undertaken following relief measures for its stakeholders specially Employers and Insured Persons, besides strengthening its medical resources to fight COVID-19.
As a relief measure, the period for filing ESI contribution for the month of February and March was earlier extended to 15th April and 15th May, respectively. Now, considering the hardship being faced by employers, the period for filing ESI contribution for the month of February has been further extended from earlier extended period i.e. 15th April to 15th May, 2020. The period for filing contribution for the month of March 2020 is also 15th May, 2020. No penalty or interest or damage will be levied on establishments during the extended period. 3.49 crore Insured Persons (IPs) and 12,11,174 employers will get relief with the extension of period for filing the return.
Besides these, following relief measures have been undertaken for Insured Persons and Beneficiaries.
In order to ease hardship of ESI Beneficiaries, purchase of medicines by ESI beneficiaries from private chemists during the lockdown period and its subsequent reimbursement by ESIC has been permitted.
A provision has also been made for providing medical services to IPs and beneficiaries from Tie-up Hospitals, if an ESIC Hospital is declared as a dedicated Covid-19 Hospital to cater exclusively to Corona suspected/confirmed cases. ESI beneficiaries can be referred to tie-up Hospitals for providing prescribed secondary/SST consultation/admission/ investigation, during the period for which concerned ESIC Hospital functions as dedicated Covid-19 Hospital. ESI Beneficiary may also seek Emergency/non-Emergency medical treatment from tie-up hospital directly without referral letter, in accordance with his entitlement.
Medical Benefit is provided under Rule 60-61 to the Insured persons who cease to be in insurable employment on account of permanent disablement and to the retired Insured Persons, on payment of advance lump-sum contribution for a year at the rate of Rs.10/- per month. Under the prevailing circumstances of lockdown, there may be cases where validity of the medical benefit cards issued to these beneficiaries expire as these beneficiaries are unable to deposit the advance annual lump-sum contribution due to lockdown. Such beneficiaries have been allowed to avail medical benefit under Rule 60 and 61 of ESI (Central Rules) till 30.06.2020.
The payment of Rs.41.00 crore (approx.) in respect of Permanent Disablement Benefit and Dependants’ Benefit have been sent to the bank accounts of beneficiaries in the month of March, 2020.
No. CSR-01/4/2020-CSR-MCA
Government of India
Ministry of Corporate Affairs
10th April, 2020
COVID-19 related Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
The Ministry has been receiving several references/ representations from various stakeholders seeking clarifications on eligibility of CSR expenditure related to COVID-19 activities. In this regard, a set of FAQs along with clarifications are provided below for better understanding of the stakeholders:
S. No.
Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQs)
Reply
1
Whether contribution made to ‘PM CARES Fund’ shall qualify as CSR expenditure?
Contribution made to ‘PM CARES Fund’ shall qualify as CSR expenditure under item no (viii) of Schedule VII of the Companies Act, 2013 and it has been further clarified vide Office memorandum F. No. CSR-05/1/2020-CSR-MCA dated 28th March, 2020.
2
Whether contribution made to ‘Chief Minister’s Relief Funds’ or ‘State Relief Fund for COVID-19’ shall qualify as CSR expenditure?
‘Chief Minister’s Relief Fund’ or ‘State Relief Fund for COVID-19’ is not included in Schedule VII of the Companies Act, 2013 and therefore any contribution to such funds shall not qualify as admissible CSR expenditure.
3
Whether contribution made to State Disaster Management Authority shall qualify as CSR expenditure?
Contribution made to State Disaster Management Authority to combat COVID-19 shall qualify as CSR expenditure under item no (xii) of Schedule VII of the 2013 and clarified vide general circular No. 10/2020 dated 23rd March, 2020.
4
Whether spending of CSR funds for COVID-19 related activities shall qualify as CSR expenditure?
Ministry vide general circular No. 10/2020 dated 23rd March, 2020 has clarified that spending CSR funds for COVID-19 related activities shall qualify as CSR expenditure. It is further clarified that funds may be spent for various activities related to COVID-19 under items nos. (i) and (xii) of Schedule VII relating to promotion of health care including preventive health care and sanitation, and disaster management. Further, as per general circular No. 21/2014 dated 18.06.2014, items in Schedule VII are broad based and may be interpreted liberally for this purpose.
5
Whether payment of salary/wages to employees and workers, including contract labour, during the lockdown period can be adjusted against the CSR expenditure of the companies?
Payment of salary/ wages in normal circumstances is a contractual and statutory obligation of the company. Similarly, payment of salary/ wages to employees and workers even during the lockdown period is a moral obligation of the employers, as they have no alternative source of employment or livelihood during this period. Thus, payment of salary/ wages to employees and workers during the lockdown period (including imposition of other social distancing requirements) shall not qualify as admissible CSR expenditure.
6
Whether payment of wages made to casual /daily wage workers during the lockdown period can be adjusted against
the CSR expenditure of the companies?
Payment of wages to temporary or casual or daily wage workers during the lockdown period is part of the moral/ humanitarian / contractual obligations of the company and is applicable to all companies irrespective of whether they have any legal obligation for CSR contribution under section 135 of the Companies Act 2013. Hence, payment of wages to temporary or casual or daily wage workers during the lockdown period shall not count towards CSR expenditure.
7
Whether payment of ex- gratia to temporary /casual /daily wage workers shall qualify as CSR expenditure?
If any ex-gratia payment is made to temporary / casual workers/ daily wage workers over and above the disbursement of wages, specifically for the purpose of fighting COVID 19, the same shall be admissible towards CSR expenditure as a one- time exception provided there is an explicit declaration to that effect by the Board of the company, which is duly certified by the statutory auditor.
This issues with the approval of competent authority.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON CENTRAL GOVT. RELIEF FOR EMPLOYEES’ AND EMPLOYERS’ CONTRIBUTION FOR THREE MONTHS TO LOW WAGE EARNING EPF MEMBERS EMPLOYED IN ESTABLISHMENTS WITH EMPLOYMENT STRENGTH UPTO ONE HUNDRED
Q1: What is the objective of this Scheme?
Ans: The Central Govt. announced Pradhan Mantri Garib Kayan Yojana Package to help the poor fight the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of this package, with the objective to prevent disruption in the employment of low wage earning employees and support businesses employing less than one hundred employees, the Central Govt. has decided to pay 24 percent of the monthly wages into their EPF accounts for three months.
To implement the package, the Ministry of Labour, Govt. of India has approved Scheme guidelines.
Q2: What are the effective months during which this Scheme is being implemented?
Ans: This Scheme will be valid for wage months- March, 2020, April, 2020 and May 2020.
Q3: Which are the establishments eligible for getting the benefit of contributions from Central Govt.?
Ans: For any establishment to be eligible for benefits,
(i) The establishment or factory should already be covered and registered under the Employees’ Provident Funds & Misc. Provisions Act, 1952.
(ii) The total number of employees employed in the establishment should be up to 100 (one hundred), with 90% or more of such employees should be drawing monthly wages less than Rs.15000/-.
Q4: Are all employees of eligible establishment eligible for the Central Govt. relief under this Scheme?
Ans: For an employee to be eligible for benefits,
(i) Employee should be employed in any eligible establishment earning monthly wages of less than Rs.15000/- and his UAN should be seeded with his/her Aadhaar.
(ii) Employee should be a member of EPF Scheme, 1952 & Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995 whose contributions are received for any period during last six months (wage months: September 2019 to February 2020) in the ECR filed by any eligible establishment against his/her UAN.
Such contributions in ECR should have been received on monthly wage of less than Rs.15000/-.
Q5: Whether an employee, earning less than Rs.15000/- employed in an eligible estt who is no longer a member of EPS, 1995 due his attaining age of 58 years but is a member of EPF Scheme, 1952 eligible for relief under this Scheme?
Ans: EPF members who are not EPS members due to completion of 58 years shall be eligible provided other conditions are fulfilled and the contribution from Central Govt. will be credited to his EPF account.
Q6: Can you illustrate the verification of eligibility of an EPF covered establishment for benefit under this Scheme?
Ans: If an establishment already covered under the EPF & MP Act, 1952 has remitted contributions in respect of fifty employees for the month of February, 2020, through ECR and on verification of ECR, it is found that for 46 employees (92% of 50 employees), the contributions are paid on wages less than Rs.15000/-, the establishment is eligible.
All the 46 employees earning wages less than Rs.15000/- are eligible for benefit.
If the above situation of total employees up to 100 and 90% or more of employees earning monthly wage of less than Rs.15000/- prevails in wage month of March, 2020, April, 2020 and May 2020, the establishment is eligible for benefit under this Scheme.
Q7. What is the quantum of Central Govt. relief under this Scheme?
Ans: The entire employee’s EPF contributions (12% of wages) and employer’s EPF & EPS contribution (12% of wages), totalling 24% of the monthly wages for the next three months shall be directly paid by the Central Govt. in the EPF accounts (UAN) of eligible employees in employed in eligible establishments.
Q8: Whether employee is defined for the purpose of this Scheme?
Ans: The definition of employee as contained in sec 2(f) of the EPF & MP Act, 1952 as well as other definitions in EPF & MP Act, 1952 are mutatis mutandis applicable to this Scheme.
Q9: Who will be considered as contributory member for determining eligibility?
Ans: Employee, employed in eligible establishment, should be a contributory member of EPF Scheme, 1952 & Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995, whose contributions are received against his/her UAN for any period during last six months (wage months-September 2019 to February 2020) in the ECR filed by any eligible establishment.
Q10: How an eligible employee is benefitted by this Scheme?
Ans: The monthly employee’s EPF contributions @ 12% of monthly wage which is deducted from wage of the employee is now to be paid by the Central Govt. in the EPF account of the eligible employee. So there will be no deduction from wages of eligible employee so he/she will have a higher take home salary.
Since the employer is also supported for employer’s share by the Govt., it prevents loss of employment of low wage earners and ensures payment of wages to employees.
Q11: How an employer of eligible establishment is benefitted by this Scheme?
Ans: Employer of eligible establishment is not required to pay his share of EPF & EPS contributions @12% of monthly wage of eligible employees of his establishment and so employer saves this money. This is an incentive to employers of small business to retain all his employees and pay them wages.
Q12: Can you illustrate the monetary benefit to an Employee & Employer under this Scheme?
Ans: If an eligible employee draws a monthly wage of Rs.10000/-, Rs.1200/- which was to be paid into EPF by deduction from his monthly wage will now be paid by the Central Govt.
Further, in the above case, the employer is also not required to incur expenditure of Rs.1200/- from his finances as the Central Govt. pays the same.
Q13: So, Central Govt. will bear the entire liability under the EPF & MP Act, 1952 for eligible establishments?
Ans: The Central Govt. shall bear the entire liability towards the EPF & EPS contributions of the eligible employees in eligible establishment. The employer of eligible assets, shall continue to pay the EDLI contributions and EPF administrative charges for all employees as well as the EPF & EPS contributions for ineligible employees.
Q 14: Whether this scheme is applicable to employees in exempted establishment?
Ans: Yes, provided that the establishment meets the eligibility conditions as mentioned in Answer to Q3
Q 15: If the UAN is not seeded with Aadhaar, how the validation/seeding is possible in lockdown period?
Ans: Online e-KYC facility is available to member on EPFO Portal as well on UMANG mobile App to self-validate their UAN with Aadhaar without any intervention by Employer. This is in addition to Online Aadhaar validation in member’s UAN by employer.
Since the validation is Online, seeding of Aadhaar in UAN can be completed now also.
Q 16: Whether the EPFO will communicate with the employers of the establishments found eligible from ECRs of month prior to March 2020?
Ans: Yes, EPFO will send communication in employer’s login to all such establishments for payment of wages to employees and filing of ECR. However, the eligibility will be validated on filing of ECR by employers for the wage months- March, 2020, April 2020 and May, 2020 and also with reference to information furnished in Form 5A.
Q 17: How the benefits can be applied for and who has to apply, employer or employee?
Ans: The employer in relation to any eligible establishment, is required to disburse salary/wages for the month to all employees of the establishment, without deducting EPF contributions from wages of eligible employees and file Electronic Challan cum Return (ECR) for the month to claim benefit under this Scheme.
Q 18: Is the employer required to file separate ECR for the eligible employees?
Ans: Each eligible establishment has to file only one valid ECR for each of three months in respect of its total employees both eligible as well as ineligible employees.
Q 19: Is the employer required to file any other information other than ECR?
Ans: The Form 5A (Ownership return) should contain particulars of all branches and departments of the establishment and also code numbers, if any, taken for administrative convenience for the branches. The employer can update Form 5A online using his approved Digital Signature Certificate (DSC).
Q 20: Whether the contributions amount has to be initially paid by the establishment and thereafter reimbursed by Central Govt.?
Ans: Once ECR is uploaded by an employer of eligible establishment, the challan will separately show such amounts of employees’ and employers’ contributions as Central Govt. relief due under this Scheme in respect of eligible employees and the remaining amount payable by the employer.
After the employer remits the payment due from him as reflected in challan as noted above, the EPF & EPS contributions in respect of eligible employees will be credited directly in their respective UAN by the Central Govt.
Q 21: What is the responsibility of employer for availing the benefits?
Ans: The employer must ensure to file correct information, statement or declaration for total number of employees, disbursement of wages, amount of wages in the ECR and full details of establishment in Form 5A. The employer is required to file a certificate/declaration in the format prescribed under 6 (vii) of the Scheme at the time of ECR submission.
If it is discovered that the information furnished or declaration made electronically in ECR or Form 5A or otherwise are false/incorrect, then the employer will be liable to refund the relief and also face the penal consequences for such contravention under the EPF & MP Act, 1952.
Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation MES (Ministry of Labour & Employment, Govt. Of India) Head Office Bhavishya Nidhi Bhawan, 14- Bhikaiji Cama Place, New Delhi— 110066
संख्या: HRD/1(71)2014/Misc./Pt. II
दिनांक : 06.04.2020
सेवा में
सभी अपर केन्द्रीय भविष्य निधि आयुक्त
……
Subject: Entitlement of Mileage allowance in addition to Conveyance Allowance during COVID-19 Lockdown – regarding.
As you are aware, the services of EPFO have been brought under the essential services in public interest and it calls for skeletal attendance of officers and staff at various offices for carrying out the requisite functions. As public transport is not available during the lockdown declared by Central Government on account of COVID-19. Officers and staff may be required to use their own vehicles for coming to office to perform essential duties. Accordingly, in order to incentivise usage of own conveyance, following mileage allowance may be provided to officers and staff attending office to render essential services from office in accordance with roster/orders of their controlling officers.
i. Mileage allowance will be admissible for Two /Four-wheeler vehicles used and at the corresponding rates (as being used to regulate TA bills) specified by competent Government Authorities where office is located.
ii. Distance will be counted by shortest route in accordance with Google Maps from office to declared place of residence as per service book of concerned officials multiplied by 2.
iii. Officials will give only one consolidated self-certified bill for claiming above Mileage allowance within 30 days of lifting of lockdown orders by Government of India.
iv. Officials using staff car or car hired by office wouldn’t be entitled tor above Mileage Allowance.
v Above mileage allowance will be admissible in addition to Transport Allowance payable under FR&SR.
vi. Authorities empowered to pass TA Bills as per delegation of financial powers will be competent to pass above bills.
To
All Addl CPFCs in charge of Zones
All RPFCs in charge of Regional Offices
All OlCs in charge of District Offices
Sub: Forwarding of Office memo dated 09.04.2020 and Scheme Guidelines approved by Ministry of Labour. Govt. of India to implement the PMGKY package
Sir,
The Govt. of India on 26.03.2020 announced Rs.1.70 Lakh Crore relief package under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) for the poor to help them fight the battle against Corona Virus Pandemic. As part of the said package, the Central Govt. proposes to pay 24 percent of the monthly wages into EPF accounts for next three months of Wage-earners below Rupees fifteen thousand per month, who are employed in establishments having up to one hundred employees, with 90% or more of such employees earning monthly wages less than Rs.15000/-.
To implement the aforesaid package, the Ministry of Labour, Govt. of India, has approved a Scheme with guidelines which has been issued vide Office Memo no. C-1/Misc /2020-2021/Vol. II/Pt/6 dated 09.04.2020, the same are enclosed herewith. The said document has been hosted on the EPFO website accessible on home page under the TAB ‘COVID-19’.
On basis of data furnished by establishments in the Electronic Challan cum Returns (ECR) filed under their EPF Code numbers, a provisional list of probable eligible establishments has been drawn up which are available to Zos/ROs in the MIS and communication is also being issued in the login of these establishments.
However, eligibility of these or any establishment is liable to be validated once the employer disburses the wages to the employees and uploads ONLY One valid ECR for each of the wage months – March 2020, April 2020 and May 2020 with the required certification and undertaking as per the Scheme guidelines.
The IS Division shall ensure all technical and software preparedness for smooth filing of ECR, validation of eligibility and upfront credit of Central Govt. relief in r/o eligible employees ineligible establishments.
Facebook
Twitter
Telegram