business100news.com; Kodikunnil Suresh MP raised a matter of urgent public importance in the Lok Sabha regarding the emerging crisis in the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) system that is severely affecting lakhs of workers and pensioners across the country.
In his Zero Hour intervention, Kodikkunnil Suresh expressed deep concern over the prolonged delays in EPF claim settlements, continuous technical glitches in the EPFO portal, and frequent, unexplained rejection of withdrawal applications, which have created widespread distress among employees, especially those from the unorganised and low-income sectors.
He noted that many workers, retired employees, and dependents are unable to access their rightful Provident Fund savings at a time when they are struggling with rising household expenses, medical emergencies, and growing debt burdens. He stressed that the EPF is not a government charity but the hard-earned savings of crores of workers, accumulated over decades, and any disruption or mismanagement amounts to the denial of their financial security and dignity.
Kodikkunnil Suresh also highlighted the lack of clarity regarding interest crediting timelines, the slow implementation of the Unified Member Portal, and the persistent confusion surrounding the higher pension option following the Supreme Court judgment. Thousands of pensioners are still waiting for confirmation or revision of their pension amounts, leaving them anxious and financially vulnerable.
He urged the Minister for Labour and Employment to intervene immediately to resolve procedural delays and technical failures affecting EPF withdrawals and pension processing, and to issue a clear public clarification on the status of interest crediting and the higher pension scheme. He further stressed the need for accountability within EPFO to ensure that such systemic failures do not recur.
Kodikkunnil Suresh MP stated that at a time when inflation, unemployment, and wage stagnation continue to burden the working class, any disruption in accessing Provident Fund benefits is unacceptable. He called upon the Union Government to take urgent corrective steps to safeguard the financial security of crores of workers and pensioners across India.
