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Understanding EPF and ETF Contributions

7 min read

Complete breakdown of employee provident fund and trust fund requirements for employers in Sri Lanka.

EPF & ETF: the compliance guardrails HR teams rely on

Failing to manage statutory contributions on time exposes boards to penalties, labour inspections, and reputational damage. This guide outlines exactly what labour officers look for and how to embed EPF/ETF into your monthly payroll rituals.

What keeps HR directors awake at night

  • Data mismatches between payroll, bank uploads, and Form C submissions.
  • Labour inspectors requesting supporting schedules within 48 hours.
  • New-joiner documentation (Form A, ETF enrolment) getting lost in email chains.

Compliance milestones you cannot miss

  1. Within 14 days of first hire: register with EPF/ETF departments and assign internal owners for submissions.
  2. By the 30th of each month: remit contributions (employer 12%, employee 8% for EPF; employer 3% ETF) and store bank advice slips.
  3. Quarterly: reconcile payroll registers against Form C totals and explain variances in writing.
Labour inspection readiness pack
  • Signed employment contracts and EPF Form A copies.
  • Updated payroll register template with overtime and allowance breakdowns.
  • Bank proof of EPF/ETF payments and Form C submissions for the past 12 months.
  • Variance log explaining gross-to-net adjustments each pay cycle.

Communication and measurement plan

Issue an employee-facing FAQ every time contribution rates or payroll cut-offs change. Reinforce the process for submitting queries, updating bank details, and requesting contribution statements. Transparent communication keeps trust high and reduces last-minute escalations.

Track lead indicators such as contribution submission date, variance counts, and employee ticket volume. Use these metrics to brief HR leadership and demonstrate continuous improvement during labour inspections.

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Understanding EPF and ETF Contributions | WinCore Blog | WinCore BPO Sri Lanka