EPFO launches Whatsapp helpline number for grievance redressal

The Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has launched a Whatsapp helpline number for speedy grievance redressal, the Ministry of Labour said on Tuesday. The service was launched under its series of Nirbadh initiatives aimed at ensuring seamless and uninterrupted service delivery to subscribers during the COVID-19 pandemic, the ministry said. 

Through the Whatsapp helpline number, subscribers can interact directly with EPFO’s regional offices at a personalised level and can have their grievances redressed from the comfort of their homes.

Where is the helpline service functional?

The WhatsApp helpline service is now functional in all the 138 regional offices of EPFO, the ministry said. 

A PF subscriber can simply put a WhatsApp message on the helpline number to file a grievance or seek guidance. 

It should, however, be filed at the helpline number of the regional office where the PF account is maintained.

The helpline numbers are available on the homepage of EPFO’s official website.

Every regional office has a team of experts to resolve grievances and answer queries.

How does the service help during the COVID-19 pandemic?

The new service will drastically reduce the need for the subscribers to physically visit EPFO’s offices, the ministry said. This in turn will help maintain social distancing in EPFO’s workplace during the COVID-19 pandemic, it added.

It also strengthens the channel of communication between EPFO and its subscribers amid the pandemic.

Grievances redressed through Whatsapp

Over 164,040 grievances and queries have been redressed through WhatsApp, Labour Ministry said. This has led to decline in registration of grievances or queries on social media like Facebook and Twitter by 30% and on EPFiGMS (EPFO’s online grievance resolution portal) by 16%, it added.