The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) added 12.76 lakh net subscribers during April, 2021, according to provisional data released Sunday, June 20. EPFO net subscribers during April registered an increase of 13.73% as compared to the previous month during which was around 11.22 lakh.
According to data released by the Labour Ministry, the number of exits in the month of April, 2021 declined by 87,821 and rejoinings increased by 92,864 subscribers as compared to March, 2021.
“Of the 12.76 lakh net subscribers added during the month, around 6.89 lakh new members have come into the social security coverage of EPFO for the first time. Around 5.86 lakh net subscribers exited and then rejoined EPFO by changing their jobs within the establishments covered by EPFO and choose to retain membership through transfer of funds rather than opting for final settlement,” the Labour Ministry release said.
Age-wise comparison of payroll data shows that the age group of 22-25 years has registered the highest number of net enrollments with around 3.27 lakh additions during the month of April, 2021. This is followed by age-group of 29-35 with around 2.72 lakh net enrollments. The members of 18-25 age-groups, usually first timers in the job market, have contributed around 43.35% of total net subscriber additions in April, 2021.
State-wise comparison of payroll figures indicate that establishments registered in Maharashtra, Haryana, Gujarat, Tamilnadu and Karnataka were at the forefront with approximate addition of 7.58 lakh subscribers during the month, which is around 59.41% of total net payroll addition across all age groups.
Gender-wise analysis indicates that the share of female’s enrolment is approximately 22% of total net subscribers added during the month. Month-on-month analysis reveals an increasing trend in net female subscribers by adding 2.81 lakh enrollments during April, 2021 which was 2.42 lakh during March, 2021. In addition to this, number of female subscribers who have come under the ambit of EPFO for the first time, has also increased to 1.90 lakh in April, 2021 from 1.84 lakh in March, 2021.
“Industry-wise payroll data indicates that ‘expert services’ category (consisting of manpower agencies, private security agencies and small contractors etc.) constitutes 45% of total subscribers addition during the month. In addition, industries involved in making plastic products, beedi, schools, banks and establishments related to iron & steel sectors have also registered above average growth in terms of net addition of subscribers during the of April, 2021 as compared to the previous month of March, 2021,” the Labour Ministry statement added.
EPFO has been releasing payroll data from April 2018. It comprises of EPFO subscribers who joined during the month under review and whose contrition was received. EPFO manages social security fund of workers in the organised and semi-organised sector in India.