New Delhi, July 27 -- The recent EPF reform has brought renewed attention to an aspect of the Employees' Provident Fund that had long been overlooked. While the statutory mandatory contribution has always been linked to the prescribed wage ceiling of Rs.15,000 ( Rs.1,800 per month), many organisations continued contributing a flat 12% of higher wages for both employers and employees as an established payroll practice.

The reform effectively reaffirms this distinction. In doing so, it creates an opportunity that extends well beyond higher take-home pay.

For decades, retirement benefits in corporate India have been built predominantly around EPF. The renewed clarity around statutory versus voluntary contributions creates an opportunity to...