JCT workers hold protest, demand action in PF scam

In an alarming turn of events, JCT workers here have now come forward with serious allegations against JCT officials and EPFO and staged a dharna in front of the premises of JCT mill here today.

They alleged that despite multiple audits of the company’s PF Trust, the RPFO had failed to take any significant action since December 2022, allegedly allowing corruption and mismanagement to continue unchecked. Workers claimed that the RPFO had been negligent in its responsibility to protect the rights of employees. Every three months, RPFO auditors visited the mill for inspections, yet no action had been taken against the fraudulent activities taking place under the company’s management.

The authorities are now offering to pay only the amount reflecting in the challans, ignoring the large sums of money that were unlawfully deducted from employees’ salaries and wages — funds that the RPFO was supposed to safeguard.

The workers are now demanding full and final settlement of their PF as there were sufficient funds available to clear the dues. They have further urged the RPFO Jalandhar to take the necessary legal action against company trustees, including mill chairman and MD, mill’s executive director Mukulika Sinha and other individuals responsible for the mishandling of the funds. Moreover, workers allege that some company officials have illicitly withdrawn their PF.

Despite several written agreements made in the presence of state authorities, including the Labour Department, SDM, ADC, and SP, Pagwara, there has been little or no progress for finding a solution to the problem. The state administration in Kapurthala and Phagwara, along with the Labour Department and the Department of Factories, have been accused of inaction.

Former JCT Employee Ashwini Thapar has alleged that the police reluctantly registered FIRs against Samir and Mukulika, but no significant effort had been made to arrest them.

In light of these ongoing issues, workers are urging Punjab Chief Minister to take immediate action. While the state government is focussed on bringing in new industries and creating jobs, thousands of workers have been left jobless due to the illegal closure of two companies. The workers have called for swift intervention to ensure that justice was served and that those responsible for this fraudwere held accountable.

Regional Provident Funds Commissioner Pankaj Kumar told this correspondent here today that EPFO Regional Office Jalandhar had taken exemplary steps against JCT in the interest of employees. He said as soon as it was found that the contribution from October 2022 onwards had been deducted from the employee’s salary but not deposited with the trust, the entire amount was assessed and subsequently the bank account of the establishment was frozen.

He said that RPF office had taken a pro-active stand here as well and tried to convince the board of trustees to voluntarily surrender the trust as it would enable the department to take over the trust quickly.