The Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) announced the temporary suspension of gratuity hike on account of an increase in their dearness allowance (DA). An EPFO circular signed by SK Suman, additional Central PF commissioner, and issued on May 7, 2024, said, "The circular number HRD-1/8/2024/Misc-Circulars-Part(1)/1004 dated 30.4.2024 is kept in abeyance with immediate effect”. The move earlier announced on increase in gratuity amount corollary to DA hike, based on the recommendations of the seventh Central Pay Commission, is expected to benefit around 4.9 million government employees and 6.79 million pensioners, amounting to a total expense of around Rs 12,868.72 crore to the exchequer.