New Delhi: The Central Board of Trustees (CBT) of the Employees'' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) yesterday again deferred the decision on the interest payable to provident fund subscribers for 2004-05.

The CBT is now slated to meet on August 9 to take a decision on the issue.

Speaking to newspersons after the meeting, the union labour minister and chairman of CBT, Sis Ram Ola, said: "I have called for another meeting of the CBT on August 9 where we will take a unanimous decision."

He said that the trade unions had authorised him to take a final decision.

"I have got the opinions of all the parties. After individual discussions with various social partners, I have arrived at a `unanimous decision'', which I will announce only on August 9," Ola said.

"Some people may have difficulties in saying certain things in public, but they have cleared their view during the one-to-one meetings."