LAHORE: The Employees` Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) says its officials are inspecting and visiting factories and commercial establishments as per constitution and law to identify unregistered establishments, registration of employees, and verify books of accounts.

Lahore region EOBI Deputy Director-General Muhammad Farooq Tahir says that EOBI inspections and visits are pro-workers as through them unregistered employees are detected and the employers are asked to register and pay contributions for them so that the employees may benefit from pension at retirement.Talking to Dawn, he says that recovery proceedings against chronic defaulters are initiated very cautiously and therefore there are very few recovery proceedings against those who have been in default for many years.

Responding to a query, he says that every employer should keep records and submit it to the institution at the prescribed time.

He says that officials of EOBI can verify any of the particulars through the account books and under the law they may seek access to these books and other documents relating to the employment of persons and payment of wages.

He says that if any employer fails to pay on the due date the contribution payable by himunder sub section (1) of section 9, the amount so payable by him may be increased up to 50 per cent of the amount due and it may be recovered as arrears of land revenue.

About complaints of coercion and undue use of powers by an official of the EOBI, Mr Tahir says immediate action is initiated on the complaints as the institution is committed to facilitating both employers and employees in a fair and transparent manner.

Referring to the complaints raised by some Lahore Chamber of Commerce & Industry members, he says that they are willing to engage with the LCCI and other stakeholders to address any concerns regarding enforcement actions within the ambit of the law.