Monday 24 April 2017

Kerala Shops & Commercial Establishment Workers Welfare Fund Act 2006

Kerala Shops & Commercial Establishment Workers Welfare Fund Act 2006
OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT EXECUTIVE OFFICER
KERALA SHOPS & COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS WORKERS WELFARE FUND BOARD KOTTAYAM
Ist FLOOR, BHARATH BUILDING, PULIMOODU JN.
M C ROAD, NEAR CENTRAL TELEGRAPH OFFICE
KOTTAYAM PHONE 0481 2582090
E-MAIL peedikaktm@gmail.com
Web Site peedika.kerala.gov.in

A Short Writeup of the Scheme
The Government of Kerala promulgated the ‘Kerala Shops & Commercial Establishment Workers Welfare Fund Act - 2006’ to provide for the constitution of a “Fund” to promote the welfare and to pay pension to workers coming under the purview of the Kerala Shops & Commercial Establishments Act, 1960 and self employed persons. It came into force on 15th March 2007.
The ‘Kerala Shops & Commercial Establishments Workers Welfare Fund Scheme’ framed under the above Act came into force on 15/3/2007 vide GO (Ms) No 29/2007/LBR dated 15/3/2007. The ‘Kerala Shops & Commercial Establishments Workers Welfare Fund Board’ has been constituted with Sri. C.K.Viswanathan, Secretary, Labour & Rehablitation Department as Chairman of the Board and the scheme is being implemented through this Board. The Hon’ble Minister for Labour & Excise, Sri P.K.Gurudasan, held the state level inauguration of the Scheme on 11/4/2007. The Act 2006 has been amended by the Kerala Shops and Commercial Welfare Fund (Amendment) Act 2008 (Act 5 of 2009) and published the same as Extra Ordinary Gazette No.37 dated 5th January 2009.

As per the Amendment Act it is compulsory for all the establishments coming under shops and commercial establishments coming under the Shops and Commercial Establishments Act 1960, to enroll all their workers in the scheme.
There is also provision incorporated in the Amendment Act for refund of contribution remitted by employees. As per the Amendment a worker who is a member of the Kerala Labour Welfare Fund Board and coming under the purview of the Kerala Shops and Commercial Establishment Act 1960 shall be a worker coming under the purview of this Act and shall cease to be a member of the Labour Welfare Fund Board and contribution to such workers need not be remitted to Labour Welfare Fund Board.

The Head office of the Board is at Thiruvanthapuram. The Chief Executive officer is the Secretary of the Board. It is expected that about 10 lakhs workers are coming under the purview of the scheme.

There are 9 District Offices functioning in the State with jurisdiction as detailed below.
District Head Quarters
Jurisdiction
Address
1. Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram District
Cherunniyoor Towers,
1st Floor, Vanchiyoor.P.O.,
Thiruvananthapuram – 695035.
Tel: 0471 – 2572189
Email: peedikatvm@gmail.com
2. Kollam
Kollam District
Building No. K.C.XXXV/1101/875 – D,
Ist Floor, Palliyazhikathu Building,
Vellayittambalam Kureepuzha West,
Kavanad.P.O., Kollam.
Mobile: 9495542193
Office: 0474-2792248
Email: peedikaklm@gmail.com
3. Pathanamthitta
Pathanamthitta District
District Executive Officer,
Kerala Shops and Commercial Establishments
Workers Welfare Fund Board,
R3 Complex, 2nd Floor,
Opposite Police Station,
Pathanamthitta.
Mobile : 9497329601.
Office: 0468-2223169
Email: peedikapta@gmail.com

4. Alappuzha
Alappuzha District
Sabeel Manzil, Opp. MES School,
Civil Station Ward, Head Post Office.P.O., Alappuzha-688001.
Mobile: 9446392257
Office: 0477-2230244.
Email:peedikaalp@gmail.com
5. Kottayam
Kottayam District
137 B, Bharat Building, Opp. Central Telegraph Office, Pulimood Junction, Kottayam.
Mobile:9446820628
Office: 0481-2582090
6. Idukki
Idukki District
District Executive Officer,
Kerala Shops and Commercial Establishments
Workers Welfare Fund Board,
Pulimoottil Arcade,
Thodupuzha,
Idukki.
Mobile : 9494048595
Office: 04862-229474
7. Ernakulam
Ernakulam District
Door No.36/2246 (C),
Vellai Parambil Buildings,
Kaloor.P.O.,
Ernakulam.
Mobile No: 9895420701
Office: 0484-2341677.
Email: peedikaekm@gmail.com
8. Thrissur
Thrissur, District
T.C.1/679, Ayyanthole.P.O.,
Near Cosumer Disputes Redressal Forum,
Thrissur- 3.
Mobile : 9447513053.
Office: 0487 - 2364866.
Email: peedikatcr@gmail.com
9. Palakkad
Palakkad District
Door No.21/784,
Arumugan Complex,
Indira Nagar, 2nd Street,
Valiparambu,
Palakkad-13.
Mobile:9037123117
10. Malappuram
Malappuram District
Maliyakkal, Building No.XV 544,
Manjeri Road, Malappuram.
Mobile: 9447947171
Office: 0483-2734409.
11. Kozhikkode
Kozhikkode, Wayanad Districts
P.M.K. Tower,
Ward 34/611 D9 and 10,
Civil Station,
Kozhikkode.
Mobile : 9447946155.
Office: 0495 - 2372434.
Email: peedikakkd@gmail.com
12. Kannur
Kannur District
T.K.1.453/5, Second Floor,
Sathyasree Complex, Parakandy,
Kannur-1. (Near Family Court Kannur).
Mobile : 9495754535.
Office: 0497 – 2706806.
Email: peedikaknr@gmail.com
13. Kasaragod
Kasaragod District
District Executive Officer,
Kerala Shops and Commercial Establishments
Workers Welfare Fund Board,
Sandal City, Vidyanagar.P.O.,
Kasaragod.
Mobile : 9446169475.
Office: 04994-255110
Email:

As per G.O.(Rt) No.3143/2007/LBR dated 26-10-2007 all the Assistant Labour Officers, Grade II have been notified as Inspectors of the Scheme under their jurisdiction.

The Board offices are fully computerized and all the activities from registration of members to preparation of financial accounts are being done through online. The website address of the Board is peedika.kerala.gov.in

Contribution to the Fund
The contribution to the fund is as follows.
(1)Every member shall contribute to the fund Rs. 20/- month
(2)Every Employer shall contribute to the fund Rs. 20/- per month in respect of each worker employed by him
.
(3)A Self employed person shall contribute Rs. 40/- per month.
(4)The Government shall contribute by way of grant, an amount of rupees five per month paid by each member or twenty five percent of the employee’s contribution, and whichever is higher.


The employer shall remit the monthly contribution in respect of each month together with the employee contribution to the fund through the banks designated for this purpose by the board. For this employer have to submit Form No.4 duly filled along with the list of employees to the concerned District Executive Officer. On receipt of the application, a Bank Card showing a unique ID No. (Registration No.) and the quantum of contribution to be remitted to the fund will be issued to the Establishment. The employer can remit the contribution due to the fund using this card. The contribution can also be remitted in advance once in 6/12 months also.
The contribution can be remitted to any of the branches of the following banks.

1.Bank of India.
2.Dhanalakshmi Bank.
3.Federal Bank.
4.Indian Bank.
5.Punjab National Bank.
6.Vijaya Bank

Membership
Every Worker who has completed 18 years of age but has not completed 55 years of age are eligible for membership in the fund.

‘Self employed person’ means a person who actually engages himself mainly in a work coming under the purview of the Kerala Shops & Commercial Establishments Act, 1960 for the livelihood without employing any workers and which does not include a person who is a member of Vyapari Vyavasai Workers welfare fund or Ration Dealers welfare Fund.

Application for membership should be submitted to the Inspector /District Executive Officer in the prescribed form. A Certificate to prove age as specified below will also be submitted along with the application.

(i)School Records.
(ii)Certificate from the Registrar of Births and Deaths.
(iii)Passport.
(iv)Driving License
(v)Voter identity card.

Cancellation and renewal of membership
If the contribution to the fund is continuously defaulted for a period of one year, the membership will be automatically ceased. However if that worker submits an application citing reasons for defaulting the payment of contribution, his membership will be resumed on repayment of arrear contribution together with fine as decided by the board. The resumption can be availed only twice during service.


Welfare Schemes and Benefits.
Pension
A member of the fund who is unable to work for a period of more than two years due to permanent physical infirmity, or has completed the age of sixty years and had remitted contribution to the Fund at least ten years continuously will be eligible for pension.

Family Pension

The Scheme provides family pension in the event of death of a pensioner or on the death of a member who had remitted contribution for at least fifteen years continuously.

Maternity Benefit
The Scheme provides payment of maternity wages to the female employees, who have paid contribution to the fund at least for a period one year continuously and not coming within the purview of Employees State Insurance Scheme, at the rate of minimum wages for a period of twelve weeks, in the case of delivery and for a period of six weeks, in the case of premature delivery, abortion or medical termination of pregnancy as the case may be. This benefit shall not be allowed for more than twice.

Financial Assistance for marriage
The workers who have contributed to the scheme for a period of three years continuously are eligible to get financial assistance of Rs. 5000/- to meet the expenses in connection with the marriage of their daughters. A female member of this fund is also eligible for this assistance for her own marriage. This assistance can be availed only for two times.

Payment of funeral Assistance
An amount of Rs. 1000/- will be sanctioned to the member in connection with the death of dependants of members who had contributed to the fund continuously for a period of three years.

Medical Benefits
The scheme provides financial assistance to the members/family members who are hospitalized in Government hospitals for treatment. A maximum amount of Rs 10,000/- will be sanctioned subject to the conditions stipulated by the Board for members who have contributed to the fund for a continuous period of three years’

Educational Benefits
There is provision in the scheme for providing educational assistance for the education of his children for members who have contributed to the fund continuously for a period of one year.

Payment of Death Benefit
If a member who have contributed to the fund for a continuous period of three years, died due to illness or accident an amount of Rs.5,000/- will be sanctioned to his family being death benefit and if the death is occurred after three years of his membership an additional amount of Rs.1,000/- will be added to the above benefit for each completed year of membership beyond three years, subject to a maximum of Rs.20,000/-

Refund of Employees Contribution
Employees contribution will be refunded at the age of 60.