The amendments to the Employers Provident Fund (Special Provisions) Bill passed by Parliament on June 9, 2009 to include benefits such as withdrawal of 30% of a member’s EPF contribution for the construction of a house, has been delayed as this piece of legislation had been referred to the Legal Draftsmen Department for scrutiny by Speaker W. J. M. Lokubandara, parliamentary sources said.

When contacted by The Sunday Island, the Commissioner General of EPF, Upali Wijeweera said that he cannot act on the amendments brought to the Employees Provident Fund Law No. 6 of 1975 as he had not received a certified copy of it.

When asked whether each of the 2.3 million EPF members will be entitled to housing loans and other benefits promised by Minister of Labour Athauda Seneviratne, he said that hundreds of members had already forwarded their applications seeking these loans.

The Minister had stated that as many of those who had obtained housing loans from State Banks on recommendations provided by the EPF Department had failed to repay them in time, the Government had decided to grant 30% of a member’s contribution for housing purposes at low interest.

Wijeweera said that in future, housing loans would be granted only to those with a credit balance of over Rs 300,000 in their bank accounts.

They should also not have any housing or other loans from the EPF outstanding at the time of request, he pointed out. "The loans will be granted strictly for constructing a new house and not for repairs or maintenance of houses".

"We have decided to grant this housing loan only in a sustainable way".

When asked about the other benefits that will be granted to members under the new law, the Commissioner General said that provisions for providing Health Insurance is also on the cards.