New Delhi: Asked if the meeting of the Central Board of Trustees (CBT) of EPF would consider lowering of the interest rate to nine per cent as suggested by Finance Ministry in line with the decrease in interest on small scale savings and General Provident Fund, Verma said, "We have neither thought of it, nor is it under consideration."

The Labour Minister said that the government intended to increase the existing benefits to employees instead of curtialing them. The government would not in any way do anything against the labourers, he asserted.

"We take care of the employees' interest and do not want to do anything against their interest," he said, adding that the objective of the government was to ensure that employees did not suffer.

"That is why, we want to see that workers continue to get the existing benefits," he said.

Stating that an unclaimed amount of Rs 30,000 crore was lying in the Provident Fund, the Labour Minister said that the money would be utilised in various schemes meant for the welfare of workers.

PTI