There has been a rise in the number of private security agencies violating the provisions of the Employees Provident Fund Act employing lakhs of security guards and watchmen to cater to residential and commercial complexes.

In 2014-15, irregularities were detected in 1,260 private security companies, compared with 869 in 2013-14, according to Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya. The outstanding PF and Employees State Insurance amounts due to employees from these companies stood at about ₹5,300 lakh, against ₹3,845 lakh in 2013-14, he said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha on Monday.

The maximum PF irregularities were detected in private security agencies in Karnataka (222), followed by 187 in Uttar Pradesh and 147 in Madhya Pradesh.