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Jobs & Career
EPF wage ceiling raised to ₹25,000, benefiting nearly 200,000 Punjab workers
✍️ Amar Ujala · Punjab
🗓 17 Sep 2026, 08:45 AM
👁 5
The central government has approved an increase in the EPF salary ceiling from ₹15,000 to ₹25,000 per month, covering about 200,000 employees in Punjab and raising cost pressures on employers.
New Delhi approved a revision of the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) salary threshold, lifting the ceiling from ₹15,000 to ₹25,000 per month. The change is expected to bring EPF coverage to roughly 200,000 workers in Punjab who were previously excluded because of lower wages.
Employers in the state will now have to contribute a higher share of wages to the fund, which could increase payroll costs. Industry bodies have warned that the added expense may affect profit margins, especially for small and medium enterprises.
The government says the move aims to expand social security for a larger segment of the workforce and align EPF benefits with rising living costs. Implementation details, including the timeline for compliance, will be communicated to firms in the coming weeks.
Labor unions have welcomed the decision, noting that a broader EPF net will improve retirement savings for low‑income earners. The policy shift reflects a broader trend of strengthening employee welfare schemes across the country.
Employers in the state will now have to contribute a higher share of wages to the fund, which could increase payroll costs. Industry bodies have warned that the added expense may affect profit margins, especially for small and medium enterprises.
The government says the move aims to expand social security for a larger segment of the workforce and align EPF benefits with rising living costs. Implementation details, including the timeline for compliance, will be communicated to firms in the coming weeks.
Labor unions have welcomed the decision, noting that a broader EPF net will improve retirement savings for low‑income earners. The policy shift reflects a broader trend of strengthening employee welfare schemes across the country.