EPF arrears due from more than 20,000 private companies

By Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana

Colombo, Oct. 9 (Daily Mirror) - As much as 20,726 private sector organizations owe a total of Rs 34.3 billion (Rs 34,362,727,926.79) as EPF contributions, Parliament was informed yesterday.

The companies which have not paid EPF to their employees include organizations in various sectors such as schools, hospitals, political parties and trade unions, a tabled answer to an oral question raised by opposition MP Rohini Kaviratne revealed.

Two international schools, one catholic school and a local school belonging to the private sector, a leading hotel and a hospital have also not paid their employees their due EPF. Employees attached to headquarters of a leading political party, a liquor manufacturing company, a large number of restaurants are also among the defaulters.

Two warnings are issued to all EPF default companies and court cases filed against the defaulters if they fail to heed the warnings. The 40 labour offices and 11 sub offices are active in taking action against the defaulting companies at the moment, documents tabled in the House said.