Thu Apr 24 14:07:41 UTC 2025: ## EPF Scheme Deemed More Beneficial for Construction Workers Than State Scheme in Kerala
**Kochi, Kerala – April 24, 2025** – A recent order by the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner-I in Kochi has declared the Employees’ Provident Funds (EPF) scheme superior to the state-run Building and Other Construction Workers (BOCW) Act scheme for construction workers in Kerala. The ruling, issued in response to a Kerala High Court directive, found that the EPF’s contributory, account-linked, and tech-enabled structure offers a more sustainable and resilient approach to worker protection.
The order highlighted the EPF’s advantages, including early enrollment benefits, portability across employers and states, digitally verifiable contributions, and need-responsive benefits designed for long-term security. The EPFO’s pension and insurance arms, along with its structured governance, further enhance its adaptability to evolving employment landscapes.
Conversely, while acknowledging the BOCW scheme’s intention to address immediate welfare needs, the order criticized its short-term, uniform benefits and administrative constraints. The commissioner cited a lack of transparency, inconsistent disbursement, and procedural rigidity as factors diminishing its effectiveness, particularly in dynamic markets like Kerala.
The ruling specifically mandates that Veegaland Developers Private Limited, enrolled in the EPF scheme since 2007, continue with the EPF scheme rather than switching to the BOCW scheme. The decision emphasizes the EPF’s superior adaptability, transparency, and empowerment in protecting workers’ dignity and ensuring a dignified retirement.
First Piper 