Union Minister for Labour and Employment (independent charge) Bandaru Dattatreya, who launched Facebook account and Twitter handle of EPFO during a Good Governance Day celebration event here, said with this the stakeholders would have another medium through which they can put their grievances, ideas and messages across.
"EPFO is a beneficial entity engaged in providing social security to crores of workers in the country. Recently EPFO has undertaken several initiatives involving Information Technology for benefit of its stakeholders. Furthering these initiatives, EPFO has now embarked upon the social networking platform to connect better with its stakeholders," he said.
Facebook and Twitter would be used for getting feedback on service delivery and working of EPFO, the minister said, apart from informing about new and upcoming initiatives/facilities/services too.
Central PF Commissioner K K Jalan assured that the new initiative would be a two-way (communication) street.
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In another change, EPFO has made it mandatory to wait till
attaining the age of 57 for claiming PF withdrawal for transferring that to the Life Insurance Corporation of India for investment in Varishtha Pension Bima Yojana.
The EPFO has also amended the scheme for appointment of upto Joint Secretary level officers by its apex decision making body the Central Board of Trustees' (CBT).
The official said that this will help expedite promotions and appointment of officials because earlier the EPFO had to seek Labour Ministry approval of any appointment with pay scale of higher than Rs 14,300 to Rs 18,300 pay band.
In another enabling amendment to the scheme, the subscribers can directly file their claims like PF withdrawals without attestation of present or previous employers.
This amendment to scheme will remove any legal hassle for settling such claims through new simplified forms.