Workers urged to verify EPF deposits as employer non-compliance persists

The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has made it increasingly simple for workers to monitor their retirement savings by providing digital access to EPF passbooks through its official portal and mobile application. With employer non-compliance in depositing provident fund contributions remaining a persistent issue across sectors, workers are being encouraged to regularly verify their account statements to catch discrepancies early.

To check an EPF passbook, employees can log into the EPFO's e-sewa portal using their Universal Account Number (UAN) and password, or download the official EPFO mobile app. The digital passbook displays month-wise contribution records, employer details, and accumulated balance. Workers should cross-reference their payslips with the EPFO records to identify any missing deposits, which typically should reflect both employee and employer contributions.

When gaps in contributions are detected, workers have several recourse options. The EPFO allows members to file complaints through its online grievance portal, while serious cases of employer non-compliance can be escalated to the labour department or taken up with the EPFO's field offices. Documentation of salary slips showing deductions paired with missing EPFO deposits strengthens a worker's case.

Employers are legally mandated to deposit EPF contributions within 15 days of the close of each month. Persistent non-compliance can invite penalties and legal action under the Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952. The EPFO has intensified compliance drives in recent years, and workers are advised not to delay in reporting discrepancies to ensure their retirement corpus remains intact.