XLRI to help PF data digitisation

Xavier Institute of Labour Relations (XLRI) has taken up a project to integrate records of the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) into a nationwide network currently being developed by Siemens. This will speed up settlement of claims.

A team from XLRI, led by chief coordinator Dr E M Rao, has already conducted the first survey at Hyderabad at the pilot project of Siemens.

The team, comprising Pranabesh Roy and Fr. Augustine held meetings with regional commissioners and chief commissioners of Hyderabad and Kolkata.

The computerisation of EFPO records was expected to lead to better monitoring of EFPO's 3.67 crore accounts worth Rs 1,25,000 crore. The project would provide PF account holders confidential personal codes.

Siemens has already submitted its business process re-engineering (BPR) report and has started networking across five offices under the Regional PF commissioner, Hyderabad.

XLRI would help integrate and prepare the organisational setup of EFPO for the changed process of work.

The PF net may be enlarged to bring the unorganised sector into its fold following such a recommendation by the Second Labour Commission, Dr. Rao said. The unorganised sector covers more than 25 crore workers. The project would help track down defaulters better.