The demand raised by the Central trade Unions in its strike on 28th February 2012 that the minimum pension under Employees Pension Scheme should be raised to Rs. 1000 has not yet been agreed to by the government. Out of the 35 lakh pensioners at present more than 14 lakh are getting pension amount less than Rs. 500 as per the statistics on the matter for the financial year 2009-10.

The government is considering certain proposals to cut the bonus of the employees and garner the additional Rs. 539 crores required for payment of a minimum pension of Rs. 1000. This is not at all acceptable to the workers. Universl Pension is a responsibility of the government and for paying pension to the workers, the government wants that it should be borne by the worker himself. This is nothing but robbery.

The Central Trade Unions should strongly oppose the proposal and demand that without any condition, the minimum Rs. 1000 pension should be paid to all those subscribing to the EPS.