EPFO and ESIC launch employees’ enrolment scheme to promote voluntary compliance, extend social security coverage

The Employees Provident Fund Organisation and Employees’ State Insurance Corporation have launched a special scheme to encourage voluntary compliance and extend social security coverage to all eligible employees.

Speaking to reporters here on Wednesday, Principal Commissioner of EPFO Sivashanmugam and Joint Director of ESIC G. Bhaskar said Union Minister for Labour and Employment and Youth Affairs and Sports, Mansukh Mandaviya, launched the Employees’ Enrolment Scheme – 2025 as part of the 73rd foundation day celebrations of the EPFO in New Delhi recently. This scheme is a special initiative of the Government of India to promote voluntary compliance and extend social security coverage to all eligible employees.

The Employees’ Enrolment Scheme – 2025 provides a special window for employers to voluntarily enroll eligible employees who were left out from 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 further aims to encourage transparency, ensure universal EPF inclusion and simplify the process of past regularization. The Scheme shall remain open for six more months from November 1, 2025 to April 30, 2026.

Under this scheme, all establishments, irrespective of 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. In respect of such employees, the employee’s share has been waived for the declared period if not deducted earlier.

“The employer’s obligation is limited to remitting employer’s share, interest, administrative charges, and the ₹100 penal damages. A nominal penalty of ₹100 per establishment will be deemed compliance across the three EPF schemes. Establishments facing inquiries under Section 7A, Para 26B, or Para 8 of EPS-1995 remain eligible, with damages limited to ₹100 notionally. No suo-motu compliance action shall be taken by the EPFO,” they said.

This scheme is expected to facilitate wider EPF coverage and formalisation of the workforce through simplified path for employers to regularise past omissions.

“This is also a giant leap towards strengthening the goal of ‘Social Security for All’ and ensuring that every worker is part of India’s organised social safety network,” said Mr. Sivashanmugam and Mr. Bhaskar said.

Mr. Sivashanmugam informed that of the 11,000 registered organisations in the Tirunelveli Zone comprising of Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, Thoothukudi and Kanniykaumari districts, 1,000 organisations had not been paying the EPFO contributions and hence notices had been issued to these organisations. “We can even attach the properties of these erring organisations,” he warned.