**Summary:**
Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1198, addressed to the Minister of Labour and Employment on July 28, 2025, inquired about delays in the disbursement of higher wage pensions under the EPFO Regional Office, Kozhikode. The question also addressed concerns regarding staff shortages affecting the office's workload.
The Minister of State for Labour and Employment responded that the EPFO Regional Office in Kozhikode received 10,807 applications for higher wage pensions. As of July 28, 2025, 90.7% of these applications have been processed. Pension Payment Orders (PPOs) for higher wages have been issued to over 80% of the 725 eligible retired applicants who have completed all necessary formalities. To expedite the processing of higher wage pension applications, the EPFO has issued directives and clarifications for the engagement/provision of additional manpower to its regional offices, including Kozhikode.
Key Entities Referenced
MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT: A ministry of the Government of India responsible for labour and employment policies.
LOK SABHA: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
SHRI M K RAGHAVAN: Member of Parliament who raised the unstarred question.
EPFO: Employees' Provident Fund Organisation, a statutory body under the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
Regional Office, Kozhikode: A regional office of the EPFO located in Kozhikode, Kerala.
SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE: Minister of State for Labour and Employment who answered the question.
PPOs: Pension Payment Orders issued to eligible applicants.
Kerala: The State where Kozhikode Regional Office is located.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1198
TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.07.2025
DELAY IN DISBURSEMENT OF HIGHER WAGE PENSIONS
1198. SHRI M K RAGHAVAN:
Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to
state:
(a)whether the Government has noticed undue delay in release of
higher wage pensions to the employees under EPFO Regional
Office, Kozhikode;
(b)if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has taken note of shortage of staff in
EPFO Regional Office, Kozhikode, affecting its ability to handle the
workload; and
(d)if so, the details thereof including the steps taken by the
Government to resolve the issue?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)
(a) to (d): EPFO received a total no. of 10,807 applications in
regional office Kozhikode for pension on higher wages out of which
90.7% of the applications have been already disposed of.
Further, PPOs for pension on higher wages have been
issued to more than 80% of the already retired 725 eligible applicants
who have completed all the formalities.
In order to ensure prompt disposal of applications for
pension on higher wages, directions and clarifications for
engagement/provision of additional manpower have been issued from
time-to-time to regional offices under EPFO.
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