Budget 2012: EPF Rate Cut from 9.5 Percent to 8.25 Percent for 2011-12


New Delhi: Government has slashed interest rate on deposits in Employees Provident Fund from 9.5 percent to 8.25 percent for 2011-12 affecting over 4.7 crore subscribers. This cut was proposed by the Finance Ministry and a notification was issued by the Labour Ministry, official sources said. The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) had provided 9.5 percent interest rate to its subscribers for 2010-11 after it found 1,731 crore surplus in its books of account. The Labour Ministry had recommended 8.6 percent rate of interest for this fiscal on provident fund deposits to EPFO subscribers. According to EPFO's income projections, a provision of 8.25 percent interest for 2011-12 would leave a deficit of 24 lakh. It had further noted that an 8.5 percent rate of return would translate into a deficit of 526.44 crore. "Finance Ministry has decided the interest rate based on what EPFO can pay," Labour Secretary M Sarangi told PTI. The government decision came under sharp attack with Hind Mazadoor Sabha secretary A D Nagpal, who is also an EPFO trustee, saying it was unfair. "We will oppose this decision at the next meeting of the Central Board of Trustees," he said. In December, EPFO's trustees had failed to decide on the interest rate for the current fiscal following sharp differences among them on the issue and had sought the Finance Ministry's intervention. While the EPFO had suggested payment of interest at the rate of 8.25 percent for 2011-12, the trade union members insisted it should be retained at 9.5 percent. The representatives of employers wanted the interest rate to be fixed at 8.5 percent.
Source: PTI