Employees’ enrolment scheme launched for wider EPF coverage

The Ministry of Labour and Employment has launched the Employees’ Enrolment Scheme, 2025. According to the spokesperson of the Regional Office, Shimla, the scheme is an initiative of the Centre to promote voluntary compliance and extend social security coverage to all eligible employees.

The scheme provides a window for employers to enroll eligible employees who were left out of EPF coverage between July 1, 2017, and October 31, 2025, and to regularise their past compliance under the Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952. It aims to urge transparency, ensure universal EPF inclusion and simplify the process. The scheme would remain open from November 1, 2025 to April 30, 2026.

Under the scheme, all establishments, regardless of their existing EPF coverage status, may declare any employee engaged by them who joined between July 1, 2017 and October 31, 2025 through the EPFO portal. For such employees, the employee’s share has been waived for the declared period if it was not deducted earlier. “The employer’s obligation is limited to remitting the employer’s share, interest, administrative charges and the Rs 100 penal damages,” the spokesperson said.

He added the scheme is expected to facilitate wider EPF coverage and the formalisation of the workforce by providing a simplified path for employers to regularise past omissions.