KARACHI – Employers agreed to voluntarily pay EOBI contribution at an enhanced rate and EFP will establish the EOBI Help Desk in the EFP Secretariat to facilitate the payments of contribution. This was agreed in a consultative meeting of employers and EOBI officials organized by the Employers’ Federation of Pakistan.
Chairman EOBI, Shakeel Ahmed Mangnejo, on the occasion, expressed the commitment of EOBI to do everything possible to facilitate the pension process so that the impasse between employers and workers on the quantum of contribution to be paid may be eased till such time appropriate legal framework is in place.
The Chairman further expressed the hope that with the steps being agreed jointly with the EFP, the atmosphere of litigation will be replaced by a climate of cooperation for the mutual benefit of employers and workers. He assured the employers that EOBI will take all possible measures to develop a conducive environment in which the EOBI can render its services to the employers and workers alike in the true spirit of the legislation and provide much-needed social protection contained behind the spirit of the legislation.
Chairman EOBI also expressed the hope that the pending issues arising out of devolution will be settled and the Federal Government will come out with a plausible solution for managing the EOBI law till such time the provinces are ready to implement the law as per the devolution process contained in the 18th amendment.
Zaki Ahmed Khan, Acting President Employer’s Federation of Pakistan(EFP), in his address, thanked EOBI Chairman for his agreeing to facilitate the process and dilute the otherwise charged legal environment in which there was a long impasse between employers and EOBI on legal issues.
Zaki clarified that since there were difficulties in amending the Federal and Provincial Law providing quantum of contribution to be paid by employers, employers have voluntarily agreed to pay the EOBI contribution at an enhanced rate of up to Rs. 13,000 per month. Employers’ agreement was based on the consideration that it will help their workers to receive the maximum pension amount for the retiring workers through EOBI.
Zaki also informed that since payment of contribution and its backlog could create hardships for employers, it was agreed that EOBI will facilitate the payment process and the EOBI Help Desk at the EFP Secretariat will facilitate enterprises in paying their contribution and resolve issues related to payment of contribution as well as benefits to workers.
