GS AIGETOA writes to CMD BSNL for urgent intervention on large scale rejection of higher pension application die to BSNL’s failure to provide required records to EPFO.

AIGETOA demand immediate intervention on the following actions:

1. BSNL Corporate Office should take up the matter with EPFO Headquarters immediately to seek reconsideration of the rejected applications.
2. Direct BSNL Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Chennai Metro District, CNTX-West, CNTX-South and Gujarat Circles and other circles also to immediately submit complete and accurate wage details and contribution records as desired by the regional EPFO to ensure proper processing of higher pension claims of BSNL employees.
3. Ensure that all affected employees receive certified copies of their pay and EPF contribution details to facilitate their individual appeals.
4. Obtain and publish all official communications from the regional EPFOs, including the rejection order and related correspondence, for complete transparency.
5. Replicate the approach taken by BSNL Kerala Circle and MP circle wherein higher pension claims are successfully accepted by the regional EPFOs and most of the optees got demand cum consent letter. It is requested to ensure equal treatment for BSNL employees across all circles.

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The cases filed by AIGETOA & Others seeking the implementation of dues of Superannuation Benefits  for BSNL recruited employees listed for hearing today 27.03.2025  at Hon’ble High Court , Kerala. The relief sought from applicants ( AIGETOA Association side ) included..

Allowing the Pension Scheme in line with Rule 37(A) CCS pensions rules for BSNL recruited employees from their respective date of joining

Enhancement  or streamlining of SAB contributions ( EPF, Gratuity , Pension &  PRMB )  to  30% of Basic+ DA with defined contributions need to be extended from 01.01.2007 inline with 2^nd PRC recommendations and DPE/GOI directions

From respondent side, BSNL counsel had submitted that they are providing 25.1% of SAB including 3.3% actuarial analysis of BSNL MRS Scheme. And due to current/ the then  financial position,   which doesn’t allow the company to go further in earlier days. It was also submitted from respondents that due to the absorption process of DoT employees and connected matters the SAB benefits for BSNL recruited employee could not process clearly.

From Association side our counsel submitted  that the justifications submitted by BSNL is not acceptable and the superannuation Pension scheme  should have implemented  by BSNL w.e.f  01.10.2000  or from the date of joining of each BSNL recruited employee instead of the starting  on 05.05.2016. The egregious delay in starting the pension scheme for almost 16 years  affected thousands of employees. It was also submitted that mentioning the  current financial situation is not justified as the 30% SAB dues was supposed to get implemented w.e.f 01.01.2007  inline with 2^nd PRC implementation and the company was in total profit of many thousands  of crores from its formation to 2009-2010. The so called affordability of BSNL is not affected due to the working class employees. It was also pointed that the step by step package implementation as envisaged by 2^nd PRC was not followed by BSNL scrupulously.

It was also submitted that the superannuation benefits ( its components)  are directed as defined/fixed contribution Schemes for  ensuring retirement superannuation benefits and the company’s existence/ non-existence has no way connected with the retirement life of the employees.  The argument of  BSNL with regard to 3.3% actuarial analysis in BSNL MRS also negated by the association counsel by informing that BSNL MRS is only a medical reimbursement scheme for serving and retired employees of BSNL. Its applicability is connected with BSNL Board decisions and contrary to the directions of DPE/GOI, there is no fixed contributions are made for retirement medical benefits for BSNL recruited employees.   If BSNL is true to its commitment of 3.3% contribution for retirement medical benefits, they should create and maintain a PRMB trust with fixed contribution against each BSNL recruited employee.

The case is posted for further arguments to a later date.

GS AIGETOA writes to CMD BSNL for urgent intervention regarding the uploading of approved documents to EPFO Portal for All BSNL Recruited Employees who had already submitted their EPF Higher Pension Option applications to BSNL and ensuring 100% submission to EPFO by deadline of 31.01.2025.

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As per the recent press release by EPFO, the last date for employers to submit the approved copies of higher pension option applications to the EPFO portal is 31.01.2025. Despite previous instructions and guidelines from BSNL Corporate Office, hundreds of EPF higher pension option applications are still pending for approval and uploading. Many Account Units have cited difficulties in accessing old data, particularly for employees transferred before the 2009-2010 period. However, as per the EPF & MP Act, 1952, it remains the employer’s responsibility to retain payroll records, and these challenges should not hinder timely submissions.

It is a well-established fact that BSNL directly Recruited employees of BSNL are not protected by any statutory pension or medical schemes. Their only remaining support post-retirement is the SAB (Superannuation Benefit) contributions. This association has also pursued legal remedies to ensure the implementation of EPF higher pension options, which are now being implemented. Therefore, the exclusion of any eligible employee who has opted for the higher pension scheme is unacceptable.

AIGETOA demands the BSNL Management that the responsibility be directly fixed for any exclusion from the EPFO portal upload, and if any eligible employee is excluded, BSNL will be held liable for the pension disbursement at the rates calculated by EPFO for each and every omitted employee.

As informed earlier through update on 4th January, 2025, and continuous persuasion with concerned section of Corporate office, instruction to the Circles have been issued on 7th January, 2025 wherein Circle heads and IFA’s are directed to ensure to upload wage details etc. and approve the all pending joint declaration application at BSNL end on or before 31st January 2025 without fail.

All CS-CP are requested to follow up with instruction person dealing in EPF Higher Pension matter and CGM and IFA on regular basis to get approved all the pending applications. It is to be noted that this is last opportunity given to the employer by EPFO.

Team AIGETOA will work with full enthusiasm to complete this EPF Higher Pension approval work.

Team AIGETOA met the concerned officers of Corporate office and intimated about the opening of window by EPFO by way of extension of due date of approval of joint declarations pending at employer end on or before 31st of January 2025. This may be perhaps last chance given by the EPFO.

In this connection, we have requested to issue the instructions to the Circles regarding approval of joint declaration for higher pension pending at the BSNL end on or before 31st January, 2025 on immediate basis.

As discussed instructions to Circles will be issued by next week preferably on coming Monday or Tuesday.

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has announced an increase in the maximum limit for retirement and death gratuity for Central Government employees. As per the latest circular issued by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, the maximum gratuity amount has been raised to Rs. 25 lakh, effective January 1, 2024.

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This revision comes in line with the increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) payable to Central Government employees to 50% of the basic pay. The previous maximum gratuity limit was Rs. 20 lakh.

The circular, issued by the Additional Central PF Commissioner (HR), states that this enhancement is subject to other conditions mentioned in the Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare (DoP&PW) Office Memorandum dated August 4, 2016.

The increase in the gratuity limit will provide additional financial security to Central Government employees upon retirement or in the event of their demise. Gratuity is a lump-sum payment made to employees as a benefit for their service, and it forms an important component of retirement planning.

GS AIGETOA writes to CMD BSNL and Hon’ble Labour Minister seeking their urgent intervention in settling the EPFO Intimations Causing Confusion for those executives who opted pension for higher wages and EPF authorized signatories of BSNL.

AIGETOA highlights the important issue that has arisen after the approval of the Joint Option for pension on higher wages by the employer (authorized signatories of BSNL). It has come to our attention that EPFO Regional Offices are sending error intimations to numerous members who opted pension for higher wages, requesting clarification, error correction, and the submission of accurate and complete information along with additional proof or evidence within a one-month period. In the letter sent by the EPFO, identical reasons are provided without specifying the exact mistakes or errors in question.

Without clear indication of the errors, members and authorized signatories are left unable to accurately correct the issues or provide the necessary documents. This approach by EPFO has led to significant confusion among BSNL employees and EPF authorized signatories of BSNL. Accordingly, GS AIGETOA urges the intervention of Hon’ble CMD BSNL and Hon’ble Labour Minister in this matter to engage with EPFO HQ to issue unequivocal guidelines that can clarify the course of action required in these situations.

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AIGETOA fought hard and won the EPF Higher Pension Scheme case for BSNL Executives as direct applicants and then ensured that the same is implemented without any hitch in BSNL. The requirement of furnishing proof for joint undertaking was a big show stopper which was resolved by AIGETOA and it’s team by getting directions from Hon’ble High Court. The efforts of AIGETOA was appreciated not only within BSNL but also by other PSUs, Mr Kohli (The crusader for higher pension option) and various Electronic and Print Media.

AIGETOA – Championing the cause of social security for all the BSNL Recruits. Only associations fighting for pensionary benefits to BSNL Recruits.

Only alternative to AIGETOA is an even more strong AIGETOA.

In order to enable all eligible persons to file their applications, EPFO on Tuesday extended the date for filing applications to opt for a higher pension till June 26, 2023. Members of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) can apply jointly with their employers till the extended deadline, by choosing the option of higher pension (EPFO Higher Pension) on the Unified Members’ portal of the EPFO site.

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We the CHQ team of AIGETOA has met with PGM (CA) and discussed the problems facing by the executives of BSNL while filing the wage data by the authorised signatories under EPFO and also submitted the AIGETOA representation in this regard.

We also requested him to write a letter to EPFO for the extension of the date of filing of the higher pension option on the EPFO portal so that all interested employees can opt in website.

PGM CA assured us that we will take up the issues as discussed and try to resolve the issues in timebound manner.