TFP Bureau, New Delhi, November 2, 2025: The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) marked its 73rd Foundation Day with the launch of a landmark initiative — the Employees’ Enrolment Scheme 2025. The scheme, inaugurated by Union Minister for Labour & Employment and Youth Affairs & Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, aims to expand social security coverage by enabling employers to voluntarily enrol employees who were previously left out of the EPF system.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Mandaviya said the initiative underscores the government’s commitment to achieving universal social security and ensuring that every worker in the country benefits from the formal safety net. “The Employees’ Enrolment Scheme 2025 is a major step toward inclusive labour welfare. It provides employers with a transparent and simplified pathway to rectify past omissions while ensuring financial protection for employees,” he stated.
The scheme offers a special window for voluntary compliance, open from November 1, 2025, to April 30, 2026. During this six-month period, establishments can declare and enrol any employee who joined between July 1, 2017, and October 31, 2025, but was not previously covered under the Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952.
Under the scheme, employers can register such employees through the EPFO portal. The employee’s share of contributions for the declared period will be waived if it was not deducted earlier. Employers are required to remit only their share, along with interest under Section 7Q, administrative charges, and a nominal penal damage of ₹100 per establishment. This lump-sum penalty will be treated as deemed compliance across the three EPF schemes, thereby easing the compliance burden on businesses.
In a progressive move, the scheme also extends eligibility to establishments currently facing inquiries under Section 7A, Para 26B, or Para 8 of EPS-1995, with damages again limited to ₹100 notionally. Importantly, the EPFO will not initiate any suo-motu action against establishments opting for voluntary compliance under this scheme.
Officials said the Employees’ Enrolment Scheme 2025 is expected to bring a significant number of workers into the formal social security fold, advancing the national goal of “Social Security for All.” It will also promote greater transparency, encourage employer participation, and support workforce formalization by addressing legacy compliance gaps in a simplified and structured manner.
The launch of the scheme marks a major milestone in India’s journey toward inclusive growth, ensuring that millions of workers—especially those in smaller or previously unregistered establishments—gain access to the provident fund benefits that safeguard their future.
