Among 20,726 companies that defaulted on EPF payments, there are 2 international schools, a major hospital, and a major hotel.

A massive financial misappropriation regarding Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) payments, allocated for the future security of private sector employees in Sri Lanka, has been revealed in Parliament. According to the answer given to the House for an oral question raised by Opposition Member of Parliament, Ms. Rohini Kaviratne, a colossal sum of Rs. 34.3 billion (specifically Rs. 34,362,727,926.79) that should have been paid to their employees by 20,726 private sector institutions has not yet been paid.

It is noteworthy that the list of institutions that have defaulted on fund payments, thereby violating employee rights, includes not only ordinary business establishments but also many leading institutions representing various sectors. This list has been identified to include two international schools, one Catholic school, and a local school belonging to the private sector. Furthermore, it has been revealed that a prominent hotel and a hospital have also failed to properly pay their employees' provident fund contributions.

A more concerning fact is that trade unions advocating for labor rights, as well as political parties, are also among the institutions that have defaulted on these funds. The relevant payments have not been made even for a group of individuals working at the headquarters of a prominent political party, and an alcohol manufacturing company and a large number of restaurants are also included in this list of EPF defaulters.

The relevant documents submitted to the House further state that authorities have already taken steps to issue two warnings to the companies and institutions involved in this massive financial misappropriation. It is also emphasized that if the institutions concerned continue to disregard these warnings, legal action will be taken against them in court.

With the aim of securing these lost rights for employees, the government has confirmed that 40 labor offices and 11 sub-offices are currently actively taking steps against the companies that have defaulted on fund payments.