Grace period to pay EPF contributions further extended

COLOMBO (News 1st): The grace period granted for employers to settle the contributions to the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF), was extended by SIX months, taking into account the COVID-19 pandemic situation in the country, the Department of Labour said. The contributions to the EPF for the month of March that should have been settled before the 31st of April and it has now been extended until 31st October, Prabath Chandrakeerthi, the Commissioner-General of Labour told News 1st on Friday (Jun. 11). Moreover, the grace period granted to pay contributions for the months of April and May has been extended until the 30th of November and 31st of December respectively, he further noted. However, Prabath Chandrakeerthi urged employers to pay the contributions to the Employees' Provident Fund by the due date. "Employers must request in writing to obtain approval from the Labour Department, if there is a need to delay the payment of contributions to the EPF," Commissioner-General of Labour Prabath Chandrakeerthi stressed.