EPFO Prepares FAQs on SOP For Inspection Of Establishments And Related Circulars

The Employees Provident Fund Organisation (“EPFO”) has issued Frequently Asked Questions on the Standard Operating Procedure for inspection of establishments and related circulars for ready reference of Zonal and Field Offices through a circular dated December 1^st, 2023 bearing Ref.No. CAIU/056/V-III/2023/2291. Among others, EPFO has clarified several matters including the following:

1. The field officers will undertake periodic desk review (“PDR”) of establishments at least once a year following selection-cum-prioritization criteria, i.e., (i) in the sequence that all establishments starting from oldest registration code; and (ii) in all cases where physical inspection is assigned.
2. PDR to be completed before a physical inspection.
3. Centralized nudging with respect to ECR based defaulting establishments be carried out by the IS Division. In respect of other cases, nudging will be carried out by the regional/ district officers.
4. Nudging email/sms will be sent through official email/number of the Regional Office and on the registered email/mobile number of the establishment and the owner.
5. During PDR, associated activities such as data cleaning, marking correct activity status of the establishment, correction of establishment details (PAN, address, ownership, etc.), updation/collection of Form 5A, DSC/e-sign, etc., and correction of coverage section shall be mandatorily carried out.
6. Inspection in respect of an establishment undergoing process of liquidation/resolution under NCLT, occurrence of an Industrial accident involving an establishment or its employees, or any specific case assigned by CAIU based on intelligence inputs/ recommendation by Field Officers through ZO, are exempted from CAIU permission as well as nudging.