A delegation of APSRTC employees has met with EPFO officials to demand the approval of higher pension applications for 6,000 staff members and resolve long-standing technical glitches.

Key Takeaways

  • APSRTC employees demand immediate EPFO intervention for higher pension benefits.
  • Request for approval of nearly 6,000 rejected joint option applications.
  • Demand for pension recalculation based on 2013 and 2017 Pay Revision Commissions.
  • Call for a separate PF code for APSRTC under the AP Reorganisation Act.

Employees of the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) have escalated their demands for higher pension benefits and the resolution of various long-pending provident fund issues. A high-level delegation, led by APSRTC Vice-Chairman and Managing Director N. Balasubrahmanyam, met with the Regional Provident Fund Commissioner-I in Hyderabad to submit a formal memorandum.

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of employees' unions expressed grave concern over the rejection of higher pension applications for approximately 6,000 employees. They also requested a one-time opportunity for 8,000 other employees who missed payment deadlines due to technical glitches in the EPFO portal and delayed demand notices.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that the complexity of pension calculations and the transition of administrative codes under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act have created significant financial uncertainty for transport workers. The resolution of these issues is critical to maintaining industrial peace and ensuring social security for retired staff.

The current pension calculation method, using the Roorkee Formula, is significantly reducing benefits by up to 40% for many employees.

A major point of contention is the implementation of the 'Double Slab' system instead of a 'Single Slab' system. The JAC argues that the current method contradicts Supreme Court judgments and fails to account for revised salaries and dearness allowances under the 2013 and 2017 Pay Revision Commissions (PRCs).

Additional Demands

Beyond the higher pension, the employees have raised several other critical issues, including:

  • Immediate sanction of pensions for employees over 58 years of age.
  • Refund of nearly ₹35 crore contributed to EPF by employees who continued service after age 58.
  • Allocation of a separate PF code for APSRTC to avoid hardships caused by the current TSRTC-linked arrangement.
Did You Know?: The 'Single Slab' system is widely considered more equitable for pension calculations compared to the 'Double Slab' method.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why were 6,000 APSRTC employees' pension applications rejected?
The employees claim technical glitches in the EPFO portal and delayed demand notices prevented the successful processing of their joint option applications.

2. What is the issue regarding the PF code?
Currently, APSRTC's PF code is linked to TSRTC, which employees claim causes administrative hardship under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act.