Technology makes life easier for EPF members

18-Apr-2010

Department of Labour together with Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel, the National Mobile Service Provider, recently launched a new service, where by all EPF claim applicants would be notified via SMS once their application has been submitted to the Central Bank by the Department of Labour. The new service would provide much convenience to applicants as they could now go about their day-to-day tasks until the SMS is sent, saving them both time and money. The new service would be available to all mobile users irrespective of which network they belong to.

Mahinda Madihahewa, Secretary to the Ministry of Labour and Man Power, said, “Today the Department of Labour holds the largest social security fund in Sri Lanka which is worth over Rs.752 Million. The EPF scheme itself has been in operation for over 50 years. Further, we have over 2.2 million active members in this program. We believe that the SMS Notification system introduced in partnership with Mobitel will help us offer an even more superior service to these members. In fact the President himself is very much in favour of promoting the use of technology that foster social development and quality of life of our people. I take this opportunity to extend my sincere thanks to Mobitel for voluntarily coming forward and implementing the system for us completely free of charge.”

Adding on Upali Wijayaweera Commissioner General of Labour said “Despite numerous efforts been taken by our officers to enhance the efficiency of delivery, we have constantly battled with the problem of informing the applicants about the progress of their claim investigations. Through this new system introduced by Mobitel, we would be able to provide this vital information instantly to the palm of the hand of each applicant via a simple SMS. I am sure that this would not only enhance the efficiency of service delivery but also motivate our staff who are also working tirelessly to ensure high levels of productivity and efficiency in processing EPF claims.”

Mobitel was the pioneer of SMS notifications to the public sector when they introduced a similar service for passport applicants on behalf of the Department of Immigration & Emigration in 2009.
Leisha De Silva Chandrasena, Chairperson, Sri Lanka Telecom and Mobitel said, “As the National Mobile Service Provider, we consider the Public sector of this country as being very close to our hearts. Therefore we considered it a privilege when we were offered the opportunity to support the Department of Labour in this timely endeavor, which would assist the department in offering them an even more superior service.