BMS to hold nationwide protest outside EPFO offices on Jan 20; demands Rs 5000 pension

Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, a central trade union affiliated to the RSS, will hold a nationwide protest on January 20 outside the offices of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organization, demanding hiking of the minimum pension from Rs 1000 to Rs 5000 per month.

A decision to this effect was taken at the Kendriya Karyasamiti meeting of BMS held recently under HJ Pandya.

“We have resolved to organize a nationwide dharna or a protest demonstration on January 20, 2022 in front of all EPFO offices and submit a memorandum addressed to the finance minister on long pending issues related to EPS-95 pensioners,” BMS said in a statement on Monday.


According to BMS, the pension under the EPS-95 scheme of the EPFO is becoming a big issue in the organized sector involving nearly 65 lakh pensioners.

“During the COVID-19 days also those who have worked lifelong got only a paltry minimum pension of Rs 1000. This is less than a destitute pension, it said, demanding that the minimum pension under EPS-95 should be hiked to Rs 5000 per month from existing Rs 1000 per month.

Further, it has urged that any hike in minimum pension should benefit all 65 lakh pensioners unlike in the past when the hike to Rs 1000 benefitted only 14 lakh pensioners out of nearly 44 lakh eligible pensioners at that time.

“Since in-principle acceptance was given by the ministry of labour, EPS-95 pensioners should be covered under Ayushman Bharat Medical Scheme as these old age pensioners with low pension are unable to get treatment at super specialty hospitals,” it further said.

“Further, the government should formulate a universal pension scheme such that pension should be 50% of the last drawn salary,” it said.

The BMS said these were raised earlier at the pre-budget consultation meeting of the finance minister with central trade union on December 18, 2021 at New Delhi in the august presence of the Hon'ble Finance Minister, Smt Nirmala Sitharaman.