EPFO Issues Pension Orders for Higher Contributions to Retired Applicants The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has issued 149,806 pension payment orders for higher contributions to retired applicants, aiming to provide greater benefits aligned with their actual wages. This initiative follows a Supreme Court directive from November 2022, which mandated the Centre to adjust pension contributions based on workers' real wages. The move was highlighted by Shobha Karandlaje, Minister of State for the Ministry of Labour and Employment, during a written reply to Lok Sabha this week. The orders are part of efforts to ensure retired employees receive pensions reflecting their earnings, thereby enhancing their financial security. The decision comes amid growing calls for pension reforms. BJP Rajya Sabha member K Laxman urged the government to consider raising the statutory minimum pension, currently set at ₹1,000, to account for rising costs of living. He emphasized that inflation has significantly increased the prices of essentials like food, medicines, and healthcare, leaving many retirees struggling to meet basic needs. Laxman also advocated for strengthening social security under the Employees' Pension Scheme (EPS), suggesting mechanisms to link minimum pensions to inflation. He further highlighted the need for affordable healthcare support for pensioners and their spouses, noting that workers' unions have long demanded such adjustments. To facilitate the process, the EPFO has outlined multiple methods for beneficiaries to track the status of their pension claims. These include using the Umang app, accessing the EPFO portal, sending an SMS, or making a missed call.#epfo #employees_provident_fund_organisation #shobha_karandlaje #bjp_rajya_sabha #k_laxman
