Dr. Javed Shaikh, acting chairman of EOBI, has announced the setting up an EOBI Helpdesk every Monday at the SITE Association of Industry premises to help members resolve their issues related to EOBI. He has also assured the SITE Association of Industry members to take its representatives on the Board of Directors of EOBI when reconstituted. He was addressing members of the SITE Association of Industry during his visit. He was accompanied by high department officials Abraiz Muzaffar, Director (Coordination) and Kanwal Wali Muhammad, Regional Head, EOBI Nazimabad.
Dr. Javed Shaikh said that the EOBI system has been digitalidigitalisedery. The registered unit has been given a user ID and password to enter employees' details and generate vouchers. He mentioned that only 4% of registered units in Pakistan are audited by the department. He added that relaxation is also being given in the audit, and from the last audit, the next two years' audit shall be done.
In response to a query from Saleem Parekh (Chief Coordinator), Dr Javed Shaikh he clarified that government departments do not fall under the EOBI ambit. He said he knows employees who suggested discussing fixed EOBI contributions and relaxation for gratuity-paying employers with the federal government.
He informed the participants that the EOBI fund currently stands at PKR 532 billion, which has been re-invested in various schemes. EOBI is paying monthly pensions worth PKR 5 billion to registered workers. EOBI collection has improved for the first time in recent months. He directed the Regional Head present in the meeting to contact the Association before issuing a Notice under Section 81.
Earlier, President SITE Association Ahmed Azeem Alvi welcomed the Acting Chairman of EOBI to the Association and presented a brief introduction to the SITE area. He said that despite Karachi's high electricity rates and the lack of proper infrastructure, the city's industrialists are trying to keep their industries running.
Patron-in-Chief Zubair Motiwala, while addressing members, congratulated Dr. Javed Shaikh on his nomination as Acting Chairman of EOBI. He said that the industry is going through difficult times. Exports of agro-based products have increased, whereas industrial output has declined. With such high utility rates, it is no longer possible to run industries.
"We need to reduce the cost of doing "business. 137% increase has been registered in the cost of utilities. A lot of SMEs have closed down, particularly looms. Capacity utilization on utilisation is even 40% in some industries. He added that the number of workers employed in factories has decreased."
Motiwala stressed the government's responsibility to help the industry survive and demanded a two-year moratorium on EOBI payment with no impact on workers. He further said that the industry is willing to utilize electricity in the winter season, but the matter has not yet been settled.
The president of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Jawed Bilwani, said that Dr Javed Shaikh has always been helpful to the business community, and the business community considers him their representative. Karachi is confronted with many issues, and due to this, people are shifting to other provinces. He requested the Acting Chairman EOBI not to take strict action against registered employers, considering their issues and Karachi city's tax share to the city's exchequer.
Chief Coordinator Saleem Parekh, on this occasion, said that despite the lapse of decades, EOBI-related issues are still persistent. Much of the industrialists' time was spent working with the government and institutions. He demanded that the 6% formula for EOBI contribution be ended and a fixed amount be taken, as 6% increases proportionately every year with the increase in the minimum wage, thereby putting an extra burden on employers. He suggested giving some relief to those employers who are also paying Gratuity to their workers.
Former Chairman Younus Bashir, on this occasion, said that the issues of not only the SITE area but also other industrial areas are being resolved amicably on a daily basis with the cooperation of Dr Javed Shaikh. He seconded Saleem Parekh's suggestion about the EOBI contribution. He added that the decrease in the number of registered workers is due to downsizing in many industries. He expressed the hope that industry issues will keep on resolving with the cooperation of Acting Chairman EOBI.
Former Chairman Majyd Aziz said that, per law, a year's audit might be hearted, but EOBI staff is going beyond this and pressurising the case regarding payment of EOBI arrears, pending in the Supreme Court. The companies that are party to the case and paying regular monthly contributions should not be pressured to pay arrears until the decision of the case. Employers who are ready to make payment of arrears may not be charged a statutory penalty. He also suggested that monthly coordination meetings should be held to resolve coordination issues.
Senior Vice President Khalid Riaz and former SVP Abdul Kadir Bilwani briefed the Acting Chairman of EOBI on the issues faced by member industries of the Association related to EOBI. Members drew the Acting Chairman's attention to the fact that impersonation officers of EOBI visit their factories and harass them. It was decided that the Association would extend full support and cooperation to members and non-members to resolve this issue amicably.
The meeting attendees included Muhammad Riaz Dhedhi (VP), Muhammad Kaman Arbi, Muhammad Kamran Lakhany, Junaid Rehman, Aman Naseem, Tahir Goreja, Anwer Aziz, Abdul Rasheed, Muhammad Hussain Moosani, Muhammad Rizwan Lakhany, Zaheer Ahmed, and others.
Dr. Javed Shaikh said that the EOBI system has been digitalidigitalisedery. The registered unit has been given a user ID and password to enter employees' details and generate vouchers. He mentioned that only 4% of registered units in Pakistan are audited by the department. He added that relaxation is also being given in the audit, and from the last audit, the next two years' audit shall be done.
In response to a query from Saleem Parekh (Chief Coordinator), Dr Javed Shaikh he clarified that government departments do not fall under the EOBI ambit. He said he knows employees who suggested discussing fixed EOBI contributions and relaxation for gratuity-paying employers with the federal government.
He informed the participants that the EOBI fund currently stands at PKR 532 billion, which has been re-invested in various schemes. EOBI is paying monthly pensions worth PKR 5 billion to registered workers. EOBI collection has improved for the first time in recent months. He directed the Regional Head present in the meeting to contact the Association before issuing a Notice under Section 81.
Earlier, President SITE Association Ahmed Azeem Alvi welcomed the Acting Chairman of EOBI to the Association and presented a brief introduction to the SITE area. He said that despite Karachi's high electricity rates and the lack of proper infrastructure, the city's industrialists are trying to keep their industries running.
Patron-in-Chief Zubair Motiwala, while addressing members, congratulated Dr. Javed Shaikh on his nomination as Acting Chairman of EOBI. He said that the industry is going through difficult times. Exports of agro-based products have increased, whereas industrial output has declined. With such high utility rates, it is no longer possible to run industries.
"We need to reduce the cost of doing "business. 137% increase has been registered in the cost of utilities. A lot of SMEs have closed down, particularly looms. Capacity utilization on utilisation is even 40% in some industries. He added that the number of workers employed in factories has decreased."
Motiwala stressed the government's responsibility to help the industry survive and demanded a two-year moratorium on EOBI payment with no impact on workers. He further said that the industry is willing to utilize electricity in the winter season, but the matter has not yet been settled.
The president of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Jawed Bilwani, said that Dr Javed Shaikh has always been helpful to the business community, and the business community considers him their representative. Karachi is confronted with many issues, and due to this, people are shifting to other provinces. He requested the Acting Chairman EOBI not to take strict action against registered employers, considering their issues and Karachi city's tax share to the city's exchequer.
Chief Coordinator Saleem Parekh, on this occasion, said that despite the lapse of decades, EOBI-related issues are still persistent. Much of the industrialists' time was spent working with the government and institutions. He demanded that the 6% formula for EOBI contribution be ended and a fixed amount be taken, as 6% increases proportionately every year with the increase in the minimum wage, thereby putting an extra burden on employers. He suggested giving some relief to those employers who are also paying Gratuity to their workers.
Former Chairman Younus Bashir, on this occasion, said that the issues of not only the SITE area but also other industrial areas are being resolved amicably on a daily basis with the cooperation of Dr Javed Shaikh. He seconded Saleem Parekh's suggestion about the EOBI contribution. He added that the decrease in the number of registered workers is due to downsizing in many industries. He expressed the hope that industry issues will keep on resolving with the cooperation of Acting Chairman EOBI.
Former Chairman Majyd Aziz said that, per law, a year's audit might be hearted, but EOBI staff is going beyond this and pressurising the case regarding payment of EOBI arrears, pending in the Supreme Court. The companies that are party to the case and paying regular monthly contributions should not be pressured to pay arrears until the decision of the case. Employers who are ready to make payment of arrears may not be charged a statutory penalty. He also suggested that monthly coordination meetings should be held to resolve coordination issues.
Senior Vice President Khalid Riaz and former SVP Abdul Kadir Bilwani briefed the Acting Chairman of EOBI on the issues faced by member industries of the Association related to EOBI. Members drew the Acting Chairman's attention to the fact that impersonation officers of EOBI visit their factories and harass them. It was decided that the Association would extend full support and cooperation to members and non-members to resolve this issue amicably.
The meeting attendees included Muhammad Riaz Dhedhi (VP), Muhammad Kaman Arbi, Muhammad Kamran Lakhany, Junaid Rehman, Aman Naseem, Tahir Goreja, Anwer Aziz, Abdul Rasheed, Muhammad Hussain Moosani, Muhammad Rizwan Lakhany, Zaheer Ahmed, and others.
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