The Employees Provident Fund Act, 1952

The Employees Provident Fund Act, 1952 had passed with a view to making some provisions for the future of the employees after her/his retirement or for her/his dependants in case of early death & inculcating the habit of saving among the workers. This Act was framed under section 5 of the Act, which came into force 1st November 1952.

Amendment of the ActThis Act was amended in 1976 with a view to introducing employees deposit linked insurance scheme, a measure to provide an insurance cover to the members of the provident fund with out the payment of any premium by these members. Further the Act was amended in 1995 providing for employees pension scheme.

Objective of the Act

• To provide substantial security & timely monetary assistance to employees & to their families
• To protect them in old age, disablement & at the time of early death

Under the scheme, a member may withdraw the full amount standing to her/his credit in the fund in the event of:

1. Retirement from service after attaining the age of 60 years
2. Retirement on account of permanent & total incapacity
3. Migration from India for permanent settlement abroad & the membership for this purpose is reckoned from time of joining the covered establishment till the date of the settlement of the claim.

Some major initiatives for the withdrawal of fund

• Financing of life insurance policies
• House building
• Purchasing shares of consumers co-operative credit housing societies
• During temporary closure of establishments
• Illness of family members
• Member’s own marriage or for the marriage of her/his sister, brother or daughter/son & post matriculation education of children
• In case of damages to movable & immovable property of members due to a calamity of exceptional nature
• Grant in advance to members who are physically handicap for the purchase of equipment