₹9,000 Pension Push Gains Strength as EPFO Members Demand Action

New Delhi: The demand for an increase in the minimum monthly pension under the Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS) to ₹9,000 is gaining significant traction among private sector pensioners.

This comes in the wake of the government’s introduction of the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) for government employees, which promises 50% of their last basic salary as pension after 25 years of service. The UPS scheme is set to be implemented from April 1, 2025.

With government employees now assured of pension security, private sector employees covered under the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) are pushing for a revision in their pension under the EPS.

At present, beneficiaries of EPS-95 (the 1995 pension scheme) receive a meager ₹1,000 per month, an amount many pensioners believe is insufficient for basic survival, leaving them in financial hardship.

Key Demands from Pensioners

Pensioners under the EPS-95 scheme are urgently demanding an increase in the minimum pension from ₹1,000 to ₹9,000 per month.

The current pension is being criticized for being grossly inadequate to cover even basic living expenses, and many pensioners claim it has become impossible to meet daily needs.

They are not only seeking an increase in the pension amount but are also advocating for free medical benefits and a dearness allowance to tackle inflation and rising healthcare costs.

It is estimated that approximately 80 lakh pensioners are covered under the EPS-95 scheme across 186 institutions in India.

This large number of pensioners has led to widespread protests, with many taking to the streets outside EPFO offices to demand urgent attention to their concerns.

The pensioners are calling for a fair revision that reflects the current cost of living and provides them with the financial security they desperately need.

No Official Announcement Yet

Despite the growing momentum and demands from pensioners, the government has yet to make any official announcement regarding the revision of pension payouts.

Ashok Raut, the Chairman of the EPS-95 National Struggle Committee, mentioned that discussions had taken place with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman before the Union Budget 2025-26.

However, the much-anticipated pension revision was not included in the budget, leaving pensioners feeling neglected and disappointed.

Several trade unions, including the Madras Labour Union and B&C Mills Staff Union, have sent formal letters to Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, urging him to consider increasing the minimum pension to ₹9,000 per month.

Meanwhile, protests have erupted across cities like Nashik, with pensioners expressing frustration over the lack of action from the government regarding their financial insecurity.

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Nationwide Strike on May 20 Over Labour Concerns

In addition to the pensioners’ protests, a nationwide strike is set to take place on May 20, 2025, organized by various trade unions.

The primary demand is the rollback of new labor codes, which workers believe undermine their rights.

The strike also protests against the privatization of public sector companies and broader dissatisfaction with the government’s labor policies.

These actions reflect widespread concerns about workers’ financial security and the need for better labor protections.

EPFO’s ‘EPFO 3.0’ Plans to Improve Accessibility

Amid these protests and demands, the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is working on a major technological upgrade called ‘EPFO 3.0’.

This new initiative is aimed at simplifying the process for accessing and managing Provident Fund (PF) accounts.

One of the key features of EPFO 3.0 is the ability for employees to withdraw PF funds directly from ATMs, similar to the convenience of banking services.

Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya confirmed that the upcoming system would bring more banking-like conveniences to EPFO members, improving their access to PF funds.

This technological enhancement will benefit millions of employees, enabling them to easily access their hard-earned savings.

However, this upgrade does not directly address the pension demands of private sector employees, who continue to wait for a resolution regarding their financial security.

Uncertainty Over Pension Demands

While EPFO’s technological advancements are a step forward in providing more convenient financial services, the future of private sector pensioners’ demands for a ₹9,000 minimum pension remains uncertain.

The government has not yet provided any concrete response, leaving pensioners worried about their financial future.

As the debate over pension revision continues, the implementation of EPFO 3.0 is expected to make it easier for employees to manage their Provident Fund accounts, but the pressing issue of pension adequacy remains unresolved.

Whether the government will address the pensioners’ demands for an increase remains to be seen, but the growing protests and demands signal that the issue is unlikely to fade away anytime soon.

Conclusion:

The calls for a pension increase from ₹1,000 to ₹9,000 reflect the financial struggles faced by private sector pensioners under the EPS-95 scheme.

While the government has yet to address these concerns, the new technological developments in EPFO’s services offer a glimmer of hope for improved financial accessibility for millions of employees.

However, whether their pension demands will be met remains to be seen.

As the nationwide strike approaches, it is clear that labor unions and pensioners alike will continue to push for their rights and seek greater financial security.