India, Sept. 24 -- The government has raised the statutory wage ceiling for mandatory Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) coverage from Rs.15,000 to Rs.25,000 a month. The Union Cabinet approved the increase on September 16, with the revised ceiling taking effect from September 17, according to the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

According to the ministry, the move is expected to bring around 51 lakh additional employees under the mandatory EPFO coverage. The government said the revision - the first since September 2014 - is aimed at expanding access to provident fund savings, pension and insurance-linked social security.

The issue also came up before the Supreme Court on September 17, when it was hearing a plea seeking rev...