Aadhaar-seeded Universal Account Number (UAN) holders will, with immediate effect, no longer require employer attestation to make provident fund claims, says a circular by the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO).

“Employees whose details like Aadhaar Number and Bank Account Number have been seeded in their UAN and who UAN have been activated, may submit claims in Form-19, Form-lOC and Form 31 directly to the Commissioner without attestation of their employers, in such form and manner as may be specified by the Central Provident Fund Commissioner, for fast settlement of claims,” says the circular dated December 1.

With this, claiming PF will become easier as employees can now directly submit forms to their respective regional office without having to seek employer signatures. The retirement fund body has also come out with new forms – 19UAN, 10CUAN and 31UAN – for all employees whose Aadhaar number and bank details have been duly verified by the employer, using digital signature, the circular added.

Prosecutions

Meanwhile, 1,401 prosecutions were launched against employers till September-end this fiscal, for defaulting on payment of PF contribution to EPFO, Parliament was informed recently.

Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya said in a written reply to Lok Sabha that the number of prosecutions this fiscal for not contributing PF in 2014-15 was much higher than 414 cases in 2013-14 and 317 cases in 2012-13. In a separate reply, he said 1,348 cases had been filed in the Appellate Tribunal under the EPF Act till November 23 this year, and 1,237 cases were still pending with the authority.

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