India, Oct. 6 -- The enhancement of the statutory wage ceiling under the Employees' Provident Fund framework from '15,000 to '25,000 per month, effective from September 17, 2026, has naturally raised questions on both sides of the employment relationship. An employee sees the change through the prism of take-home salary; an employer looks at the additional contribution to the wage bill. Both concerns are understandable. Yet, the real impact of the change cannot be measured only through the arithmetic of one month's salary slip or payroll. The '15,000 ceiling had remained unchanged since September 2014. In the twelve years since, wages, minimum wages and the cost of living have moved substantially. In several States and Union Territories, ...