Surat: The Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI), in collaboration with the Employees' Provident Fund Organization (EPFO), hosted an open house session at Samahati Venue, Sarsana. The event aimed to bridge communication between South Gujarat’s organizational representatives and EPFO authorities, focusing on resolving practical issues related to provident fund regulations.
Sudipto Ghosh, Additional Central PF Commissioner of Gujarat, attended the session as chief guest, while Sanjay Singh Gurjar, Regional PF Commissioner of Surat, was the special guest. SGCCI President Vijay Mewawala welcomed attendees, emphasizing the objective of creating a direct platform for employers to seek clarity and solutions regarding EPF compliance.
During the interactive session, EPFO officials elaborated on recent policy reforms and service enhancements designed to simplify processes for both employers and employees. These include the auto-transfer of PF accounts when employees change jobs, auto-mode claim processing for advances up to ₹5 lakh, and insurance benefits under EDLI for employees with less than a year of service, with coverage up to ₹50,000.
Additionally, officials informed participants about the UAN unblocking feature, enabling employees to reactivate their accounts independently. Pensioners can now submit life certificates from home via Aadhaar face authentication apps. Employers were also advised to complete tasks like updating digital signatures, activating UANs, and ensuring KYC compliance at the earliest.
EPFO representatives clarified that principal employers hold the responsibility for ensuring PF contributions for contract workers and presented a detailed PowerPoint on labor laws, employee-employer benefits, and obligations related to contractual labor. Attendees were also briefed on the "Nidhi Aapke Nikat" outreach campaign, held on the 27th of every month in Surat, Navsari, and Tapi districts.
A notable highlight was the performance of the Surat EPFO office, which ranked 5th nationally among over 150 offices for claim settlements within 10 days. The office boasts a 99.79% settlement rate within 10 days and 56.85% within 3 days, with a claim rejection rate of just 17%, significantly below the national average.
The event was coordinated by SGCCI Honorary Secretary Nirav Mandalewala, and attended by SGPC President Nirav Rana, Surat Labour Law Bar Association President Nimesh Patel, and representatives from trade unions and the MSME sector. The program was conducted by Sohail Sawani, Chairperson of SGCCI’s Labor Law Committee.
In closing, EPFO officials assured employers and union representatives that their offices remain open to individual consultations during working hours. This initiative is expected to enhance transparency and trust between stakeholders in the labor ecosystem.
