After 7th Pay Commission salary hikes, move on to raise minimum wage ceiling under EPF

After 7th Pay Commission salary hikes, move on to raise minimum wage ceiling under EPF

The minimum wage ceiling under the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) could soon be raised to Rs 25,000 from the existing Rs 15,000.

A hike in the wage limit as proposed would mean all employees drawing basic salary Rs 25,000 would have to compulsorily contribute to the provident fund.

The minimum wage ceiling under the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) could soon be raised to Rs 25,000 from the existing Rs 15,000. A proposal to to enhance the limit is likely to be sent by the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) to the government. A decision to propose the change has been taken at a recent meeting of Sub-committee of the Central Board of Trustees, EPFO, on contract workers held on November 7. Central Board of Trustees (CBT) is the highest decision-making body of the EPFO.

A hike in the wage limit as proposed would mean all employees drawing basic salary Rs 25,000 would have to compulsorily contribute to the provident fund. However, those drawing above that limit will have the option to become member of the provident fund, and can opt out if they want to.

The move comes in wake of changes in the wage structure in accordance with the proposal of the 7th Pay Commission. Trade union representatives at the CBT sub-committee meeting pointed out that the minimum wage of Central government employees after implementation of the Pay Commission report has been hiked to Rs 18,000. and hence the EPFO's wage ceiling of Rs 15,000 needs to be altered. They pointed out that there could be further increase in minimum wages from the Rs 18,000 is likely with the trade unions demanding a minimum wage of at least Rs 21,000 to Rs 22000.

In fact, the Employees' Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme (EDLI) is directly linked to the minimum wage ceiling. At present, If an employee is earning up to Rs 15,000 he or she can avail of benefits under the Employees Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme (EDLI). The scheme provides life insurance of up to Rs 6 lakhs.

Source: FE

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7th CPC: Central government employees salary hikes not before June?

7th CPC: Central government employees salary hikes not before June?

New Delhi: Government is likely to accept the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission and offer salary hikes to Central Government Employees not before June 2016.

Though, the matter may become clearer when Finance Ministry announces the details on implementation, and that is expected to happen before Budget 2016-17 in February.

Then there are Assembly elections expected in Pondicherry, Assam, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Kerala. So the implementation of salary hike is also expected only when the State Assembly elections are over by June/July.

Also, as per reports, seven states: UP, Punjab, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Tripura and Sikkim, have requested the Centre to delay implementation of salary hikes due to the financial burden 7th CPC recommendations are likely to cast on the state exchequer.

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