NEW DELHI: Holding that an employer cannot differentiate between contractual and permanent employees, the Supreme Court has ruled that casual workers are also entitled to social security benefits under the Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act.
“As per Section 2(f) of the EPF Act, the definition of an employee is an inclusive definition, and is widely worded to include any person engaged either directly or indirectly in connection with the work of an establishment, and is paid wages,” a bench of Justices U U Lalit and Indu Malhotra said.
The order, which is essentially clarificatory, is part of the SC’s directions to public sector unit Pawan Hans Limited to bring all contractual employees under its PF scheme and provide benefits from January 2017, when the workers’ union had approached court.
The apex court held Pawan Hans liable to pay a simple interest of 12% per annum on the amount payable by it towards PF contribution from January 2017 to December 2019.
via Contractual workers also entitled to PF benefits: SC | India News – Times of India
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