EPFO Pensioners Protest Pension Hike: Employees of Maharashtra protested strongly demanding EPFO pension hike. On Tuesday, pensioners demonstrated outside the EPFO office located in Satpur area of Nashik and raised their pending demands. Pensioners demand that the minimum pension they get should be increased from Rs 1000 to Rs 9000, so that it can better represent their years of service and contribution.
EPFO Pensioners Protest Pension Hike: Employees of Maharashtra protested strongly demanding EPFO pension hike. On Tuesday, pensioners demonstrated outside the EPFO office located in Satpur area of Nashik and raised their pending demands.
The demonstration was led by Raju Deshale, Founder President of Nashik District EPFO Pensioners Federation. Pensioners demand that the minimum pension they get should be increased from Rs 1000 to Rs 9000, so that it can better represent their years of service and contribution.
The protesting pensioners have not only demanded a hike in pension, but have also demanded other essential facilities like Dearness Allowance (DA) in view of the impact of inflation, free government medical treatment and inclusion under the Food Security Act.
How much contribution is made in EPFO?
Private sector employees covered under EPFO deposit 12% of their basic salary in the Provident Fund (PF). The employer also contributes the same amount. 8.33% of the employer’s share goes to the Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS), while 3.67% is deposited in EPF.
Demand for increasing pension has been raised for 8 years
Since 2014, EPFO pension has been fixed at ₹1,000 per month, which continues even today. Pensioners have been demanding to increase it to ₹7,500 per month for the last 8 years. Along with this, they are also demanding Dearness Allowance and free medical treatment for retired employees and their spouses.
EPS-95 pensioners meet Finance Minister
A delegation of EPS-95 National Movement Committee recently met Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and put forth their issues before her. The committee says that the Finance Minister has assured them that their demands will be considered sympathetically.
Pensioners say that a monthly pension of Rs 1,000 is very less, especially when they have contributed to this fund for about 40 years. Inflation and rising cost of treatment have made their situation even more difficult, so now the pressure on the government to accept these demands is increasing.
