EPFO Employees’ Enrolment Scheme 2025: The government has launched a new plan called the Employees’ Enrolment Scheme 2025, which aims to give more workers social security benefits under the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF). Union Minister for Labour and Employment, Mansukh Mandaviya, introduced the scheme during the 73rd Foundation Day celebrations of the Employees’ Organisation (O) in New Delhi. The goal of the scheme is to promote voluntary participation by employers and ensure that every eligible worker gets covered under EPF.
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What does the Scheme Offers?
The Employees’ Enrolment Scheme 2025 gives employers a special six-month window to add employees who were not covered under EPF earlier. This window is open from November 1, 2025, to April 30, 2026. Employers can now voluntarily register eligible employees who worked with them between July 1, 2017, and October 31, 2025, and fix any missed compliance under the Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952.
The Ministry of Labour & Employment said that the scheme is designed to “encourage transparency, ensure universal EPF inclusion, and simplify the process of past regularization.” The initiative aims to make it easier for employers to follow EPF rules while protecting employees’ rights.
Rules and Benefits for Employers
Under the new plan, employers can declare employees through the EPFO portal, no matter their current EPF coverage status. The ministry explained, “Under this scheme, all establishments, irrespective of existing EPF coverage status, may declare any employee engaged by them who joined between 01.07.2017 and 31.10.2025 through the portal.”
Employers will not have to pay the employee’s share if it was not deducted earlier. They only need to pay their own share along with interest under Section 7Q, administrative charges, and a small penalty. The release stated, “The employer’s obligation is limited to remit employer’s share, interest (Sec 7Q), administrative charges, and the Rs 100 penal damages. A lump-sum penalty of Rs 100 per establishment will be deemed compliance across the three EPF schemes.”
Even companies facing inquiries under Section 7A, Para 26B, or Para 8 of EPS-1995 are eligible to apply. For them, the damages are limited to just Rs 100 on paper. The government also clarified that no suo-motu action will be taken by the EPFO against these establishments.
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Social Security for All
The ministry said the new scheme is a big move toward bringing more workers into the formal system.
“This scheme is expected to facilitate wider EPF coverage and formalization of the workforce through simplified path for employers to regularize 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 organized social safety network,” it added.
