Questioning the claims made by the Centre that it had defaulted in Employees Provident Fund, auto giant Maruti Udyog Ltd on Saturday said it was diligently complying with all relevant acts in respect of its employees.
The rebuttal from MUL's senior corporate communication manager Arun Arora came within two days of Sahib Sing Verma releasing the list of organisations, that were defaulters of Rs 10 lakhs (Rs 1 million) and above.
As per the list, MUL was in default of Rs 10.80 lakh (Rs 1.08 million) as on July 31 this year. Verma warned all the defaulting organisations of stern, legal and punitive measures.
Referring to news reports, which put out the list of 2,151 companies by the labour ministry, Arora said, "the reference perhaps is being made to the order of April 15, 1999 passed by Regional Provident Fund Commissioner, Faridabad, imposing damages of Rs 22,08,515.
"The government perhaps has failed to notice that the foresaid order had been duly challenged by EPF Appelate Tribunal, who, while partially allowing the appeal, reduced the quantum of damages from 37 per cent to 11 per cent per annum," Arora said in a statement.
He further clarified that the entire amount of over Rs 11lakh (Rs 1.1 million), in accordance with the orders of Appelate Tribuanl was duly deposited with the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner.
"No further amount by way of Provident Fund arrears is pensing. Maruti is diligently complying with the provisioning of EPF and MP Act in respect of all its employees," Arora said.