Ministry of Finance has directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to take necessary action as per rules and policy to discontinue collection of Workers Welfare Fund (WWF) to the extent of Sindh province in the light of 18th Amendment. Sources told Business Recorder here on Tuesday that Labour and Human Resources Department Sindh has approached National Finance Commission (NFC) and Ministry of Finance on the cessation of collection of WWF to the extent of Sindh in the wake of 18th Constitutional Amendment.
According to the Labour and Human Resources Department Sindh, by virtue of 18th amendment in the Constitution, the concurrent legislative list has been abolished and all the subjects enumerated in the said list have been devolved to the Provinces by virtue of Article 142(c). The Provincial Assembly of Sindh has passed its own Act namely "The Sindh Workers Welfare Fund Act, 2014" and this Act has repealed Workers Welfare Fund Ordinance, 1971 to the extent of Province of Sindh.
In pursuance of the decision of the Chief Minister, Sindh, Sindh Revenue Board (SRB) has been entrusted to start the collection of Workers Welfare Fund forthwith as per provisions of Section-5 of Sindh Workers Welfare Fund Act, 2014, under intimation to the quarters concerned vide Department's letter of dated 30.9.2015. Finance Ministry has been requested to issue directions to the FBR to discontinue collection of Workers Welfare Fund henceforth to the extent of Sindh Province, Labour and Human Resources Department Sindh added. Consequently, Finance Division has informed the FBR that the subject issue relates to FBR, therefore, appropriate action as per rules and policy may be taken by the Revenue Division/ FBR under intimation to Labour & Human Resources Department, Government of Sindh, Karachi.