In a quasi judicial proceeding, Vashist held on March 2 that these workers were employees for the purpose of benefits under the Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952. He also held that the honorarium paid to the anganwadi workers (Asha Yojana workers, Ardhvel Parichar, Anganwadi Sevika and Anganwadi Madatnis) constituted wages attracting PF benefits and interest for the period from Oct 1986 to March 2024.When contacted on the issue of next course of action or legal remedy, Pune ZP’s officiating chief executive officer Chandrakant Waghmare told TOI, “This is a govt-level decision. Whatever the govt decides, we will follow its instructions.”The EPFO enforcement officers and the Centre of Indian Trade Unions, Pune, had initiated the proceeding after an inspection was conducted by the PF office in September 2024. The inspection found that while regular ZP employees were covered under the state govt’s General Provident Fund and pension rules, around 13,305 workers engaged under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and the National Health Mission were paid consolidated remuneration but were not extended provident fund benefits.The ZP contested the liability in its reply on Oct 29, 2025, arguing that anganwadi workers and related categories were engaged strictly under the govt policy and were paid only a fixed honorarium rather than a salary, and the government resolutions governing these schemes did not provide for PF benefits.In his order, Vashist referred to several Supreme Court judgments while interpreting the definition of “employee” under the EPF Act. These included three rulings which held that workers engaged on contract, casual or piece-rate basis were entitled to provident fund benefits if they were paid remuneration for work connected with an establishment.(With inputs from Ardhra Nair)
