VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet on Tuesday approved the extension of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) to employees recruited through various notifications issued before September 2004, benefiting nearly 11,000 staff covered under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) now. The Cabinet’s decision is expected to provide greater financial and social security to employees after retirement.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said the NDA government was committed to safeguarding the interests of employees, and initiated several measures for their welfare.
In another significant move, the Cabinet approved the rise in retirement age from 60 to 62 years for employees and teachers working in the State public sector undertakings, Gurukuls and welfare societies.
Cabinet clears retirement age parity for PSU & welfare staff
The decision will benefit employees and teachers working in SC, ST, BC and Minority Welfare Societies, as well as those employed in residential educational institutions run by the State. The Cabinet resolved to bring their retirement age on par with that of State government employees.
According to sources, the proposal was rejected twice by the previous government. However, the proposal received the approval of the Chief Minister earlier this month, and it was now formally cleared by the Cabinet.
The enhanced retirement age will be implemented with retrospective effect from January 1, 2022. More than 15,000 employees working in various corporations, welfare societies and Gurukul institutions across the State are expected to benefit from the Cabinet decision. The government has also decided to consider the re-engagement of employees who have already retired from these institutions, subject to administrative requirements.
Welcoming the Cabinet’s decisions, the AP Secretariat Employees Association expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister for addressing their long-pending concerns.