Over 22,450 institutions have failed to pay Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) contributions to their employees since 2015, as revealed in Parliament.
According to details tabled by the Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development in response to a question by MP Nalin Bandara Jayamaha, these institutions have defaulted a total of Rs 34.9 billion during this period.
The Labour Department follows a standard procedure to address EPF non-payment cases, starting with an initial inquiry by local labour office officials upon receiving complaints. Employers are first requested to settle outstanding payments along with surcharges, followed by a final request.
If payments are not made, cases are filed in magistrate courts. In some cases, institutions opt for a one-year payment plan to clear their dues.
The Labour Department operates through branch offices in 11 districts to handle such issues.
