“The relaxation will do justice to those who join government service after attaining 35 years of age due to belated induction and make them eligible for enhanced coverage under UPS,” said M Raghavaiah, leader (staff side) at the Joint Consultative Machinery (JCM) for central government employees.
The other demands include that a fourth of the monthly emoluments be credited to ensure that a reasonable lump sum payment is given to a retiring employee and that additional pensions be offered to pensioners who cross 80 years of age, as was the case under the Old Pension Scheme (OPS).
Earlier, the employee organisation thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for addressing the concerns of government employees who joined the service after January 1, 2004, and are now eligible to get at least 50% of their salary as pension under UPS.
Shiv Gopal Mishra, secretary of the JCM, had also urged the state governments to implement the scheme and extend the benefits to government teachers and municipal workers.
The Union cabinet on Sunday gave its nod to the UPS, which will benefit 2.3 million government employees, offering an assured amount of half their average basic salary drawn over the 12 months preceding superannuation for those completing at least 25 years of service.