M/s Kapoor Electricals: A continuos victimization

Dated: May 2013.

• We have learned that M/S Kapoor Electricals is recovering wages from the workers, not depositing workers EPF, and not providing workers with their EPF account numbers or documentation. 

• While we have learnt that at least 15 workers have no knowledge of their EPF accounts, we present here the case of Vimal:

  • Vimal, a skilled electrician with ITI diploma worked for M/S Kapoor Electricals from 2009 to 2011.

  • He was given indefinite baithki in January 2011 because he filed a complaint against the contractor with the Minimum Wages Monitoring Committee (MWMC) for partial recovery of his wages. He was rehired in July 2011 as his complaint was found valid by MWMC. Vimal then became a target of contractor’s harassment, his skill level was reduced and he was made to dig ditches. When he refused to comply, he was fired on October 31, 2011. For full story see The case of electrical worker Vimal.

  • During all these years, Vimal was never given his EPF account number or any receipts for his EPF contributions. 

  • In February 2012, Vimal asked for his EPF account number. He was given an account number which when checked for balances using online system was found to be invalid with the following message:

  •     STATUS for Member ID: UP/KNP/0039726/000/0000017

  •   Invalid Member_id / Data not updated against this UP/KNP/0039726/000/0000017

  •   **Data updated till 15-11-2012 17:05:40 

  • Finally due to the involvement of Citizens’ Forum, on March 7, 2013 DRPG provided an EPF statement for Vimal. 

    • The statement reveals that, during 2011-12 Employee’s contribution made to Vimal’s EPF account was Rs. 2430 and Employer’s contribution was Rs. 743. With a closing balance of Employee’s contribution of Rs. 2518 and that of Employer’s Rs. 770.  There was NO EPF deposited in 2009 and 2010.

    • Common sense suggests that an employee who had worked for about two years and 4 months (whole of 2009 + whole of 2010 + 4 months in 2011) cannot have an EPF balance of just Rs. 3288!

  • There are at least 15 workers like Vimal with Kapoor electricals with no knowledge of their EPF accounts!