Employee Enrolment Scheme 2025 launched: How it affects you
What's the story
The Indian government has launched the Employee Enrolment Scheme 2025, a new initiative aimed at promoting workforce formalization. The scheme offers a special window for employers to voluntarily enroll eligible employees who missed out on Employees's Provident Fund (EPF) coverage between July 1, 2017, and October 31, 2025. The enrollment period will be open for six months from November 1, 2025, to April 30, 2026.
Compliance simplification
Scheme aims to ensure universal EPF coverage
The Employee Enrolment Scheme 2025 also seeks to simplify the process of past compliance regularization under the Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952. The Ministry of Labour and Employment said that this move is aimed at encouraging transparency, ensuring universal EPF inclusion, and simplifying past regularization processes. All establishments can declare any employee hired between July 1, 2017, and October 31, 2025, through the EPFO portal under this scheme.
Waiver details
Key benefits for employers and employees
Under the new scheme, if an employee's share wasn't deducted earlier, it will be waived for the declared period. The employer's obligation is limited to remitting their share, interest (Sec 7Q), administrative charges, and ₹100 penal damages. A lump-sum penalty of ₹100 per establishment will be considered compliance across three EPF schemes. Establishments facing inquiries under Section 7A, Para 26B, or Para 8 of EPS-1995 are still eligible with damages limited to ₹100 notionally.
EPFO significance
EPFO's role in ensuring workforce's social security
Union Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya launched the scheme during the EPFO's 73rd Foundation Day celebrations. He stressed on the EPFO's crucial role in ensuring social and financial security of India's workforce. "EPFO is not merely a fund—it represents the trust of India's workforce in social security," he said.