The extract of the PF RO's email given here below:
The Employees’ Provident Fund & Miscallaneous Provisions Act, 1952 (herein referred to as the Act) defines employee u/s 2 (f) as any person who is employed for wages in any kind of work, manual or otherwise, in or in connection with the work of an establishment, and who gets his wages directly or indirectly from the employer and includes any person employed by or through a contractor in or in connection with the work of the establishment. Though many contractors register and take code number independetly with EPFO, ultimate responisbility on compliance rests with Principal Employer under para 30(3) of the EPF Scheme 1952 read with section 8A of the Act.
For effective monitoring of contractor compliance vis a vis employer/principal employer, EPFO has a facility for principal employer to register their contractor details viz. contract name, contract amount, tenure & UANs of contract employees at Employer Interface of EPFO’s Unified Portal: https://unifiedportalemp.epfindia.gov.in/epfo/ Principal Employers not registered with EPFO can register on above Portal with Income Tax TAN to receive Login/password for adding details of their contractors & contract workers. In this regard, the relevant process, also available at your login, is enclosed herewith for your ready perusal.
Therefore all Employers/Principal employers are instructed to immediately register all their existing contractors and sub contractors engaged for manpower, civil and other works. Further, it may be ensured that all upcoming and existing contracts awarded are mandatorily registered in the portal. Please note that above return is called for ensure your compliance under Sec 8A of the Act read with Para 30 and 32 of the EPF Scheme, 1952 by Principal employers and compliance to provisions of Para 36-8 of the EPF Scheme, 1952. In case of any doubt/query, you may contact Enforcement Officer copied in the email or this office email at ro.bms2@epfindia.gov.in along with screenshot of the error/issue faced for immediate assistance.
Your cooperation in this regard is highly solicited and an action taken report in this regard shall be sent by 25th September, 2021. In case your establishment do not engage any contractors/sub contractors a nil report shall be furnished by return email immediately.