The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has approved a sweeping set of rule changes aimed at improving long-term retirement savings, but the move has triggered a storm of political controversy. Opposition parties have accused the government of “punishing salaried employees” with what they call “draconian” reforms, while the Labour Ministry insists the new framework strengthens social security for millions of workers. Advertisement

The reforms, cleared by the Central Board of Trustees (CBT) under Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, introduce three major changes: a mandatory 25% minimum balance that must remain untouched in every EPF account until retirement, an extension of the withdrawal waiting period to 12 months after job loss (from two months earlier), and a 3

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