Govt’s tall claims of 8L jobs false?

Mumbai: While making tall claims of generating eight lakh new jobs in the last seven months, the Maharashtra government has said that the employees’ Provident Fund Office has opened new accounts. However, sources said that the figures could include instances of such persons who opened fresh accounts after job- change. The Opposition has slammed the government for making allegedly wrong claims and said that its figures are a result of jugglery.

As per information given by the employees provident fund office, 39.36 new PF accounts were opened in the country in which 8.17 lakh are from the Maharashtra during the 7 months from September 2017—March 2018. So government claiming that it has created these new jobs in the organised sector. It is the credit of the Make in India and Make in Maharashtra programs, claimed Mr Fadnavis. When employees change the job, it gets the option of transferring or withdrawing the PF. If employee withdraws the PF, establishment at new place opens new account. So change of job by the employees for various reasons increases new PF accounts though permanent number is given, told sources.

Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant told to The Asian Age that, government’s claims are wrong because, “Revenue from professional tax is decreased in last few months. Because of GST, some small companies, establishments and contractors have opened the PF accounts of the employees, but that is not the new employment generation. PF account numbers is not the tool of measuring the employment generation“

NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik slammed the government for this claim.