CITU
Protests against suspension of Rs. 1,000 Minimum Pension.
New Delhi, Apr 10 The Centre
of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) today registered a protest against Employees
Provident Fund Organisation’s (EPFO) move to suspend the minimum
pension of Rs 1000 and asked the NDA government to continue with the
scheme proposed during the previous dispensation.
The
UPA government had taken the decision to increase the minimum pension to Rs. 1,000 for pensioners and widow pensioners under the Employees Pension Scheme
1995.
But,
the retirement fund body’s has decided to suspended the minimum monthly pension
scheme from this month, which will hit about 32 lakh pensioners.
“EPFO
has issued circulars putting on hold the minimum pension. The CITU registers
its strongest protest against this action of EPFO and Government of India,”
CITU President A K Padmanabhan said in a statement.
Padmanabhan
said the NDA government had in September 2014 decided to go ahead with
implementation of the UPA dispensation’s scheme, but only uptil March 2015. The
scheme sought to hike the pension amount to a flat Rs 1,000 per month for those
who were getting lower amount earlier.
“Trade
unions had at that time itself objected to this, pointing out that this limited
order will be used against workers by stopping it at the will of the
government. But, Government had assured it will not be stopped.'''
“The
circular issued now by EPFO has raised serious concern among workers and
pensioners on the intentions of the government, as it comes in the background
of various retrograde changes proposed in EPF Schemes by it,” Padmanabhan
alleged.
He
asked the Centre to immediately issue orders for continuing with the minimum
pension scheme.
The
CITU also urged trade unions, workers and pensioners organisations to raise their
voice of protest against this “unwanted” delay in the issuance of orders for
continuation of the minimum pension.
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