The Parliamentary Standing Committee on labour recommended that all pending cases for settlement of claims are to be be settled expeditiously as well as the vacancies in EPFO be filled without further delay. The number of cases pending with EPFO as on March 31, 2009 was 6,51,151 and it has also been observed that as against the prescribed norm of 2,200 accounts, each clerk is handling approximately 4,700 accounts.

These cases have been pending for a period straddling from one month to over six months. More than 60,000 cases have been pending for over six months. The committee noted that pendancy of claims was enormous in states of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Gujrat, Andhra Pradesh, and West Bengal.

Maharashtra topped the list with 2,31,718 claims pending as on March 31. 2010. The claims pending as on 31st March 2009 was 2,01,376. Thus, the pending claims have increased by almost 30,000 since 2009. The percent of claims pending at the end of year 2009 was about 6.65%.This was despite of a well laid down procedure for settlement of pending claims (within a week). Therefore, the committee desired that the pending cases be settled within 2 months.

One of the reasons to this setback could be the immense workload on very few officers in the EPFO. The work of two officers has been thrust upon one. According to the committee ?the workload, besides being detrimental to the officer?s physical and mental health, is bound to breed corruption, malpractices and bring down the efficiency of the organisation?.

Posts were created in various grades which have been filled by promotions whereas for posts which require direct recruitment, no concrete steps have been taken. As on May 2010, there were a total of 4977 vacant positions across the country.

Government has taken steps to fill up the vacant positions. All Indian Examination by UPSC is being held in various cadres in the DR quota. The Government replied that ?Process of filling up of DR quota vacancies in various cadres have already been completely or is at advance stage. Efforts are being made to complete the process at the earliest.?