EPFO Launches Employee Enrollment Scheme 2025
Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, has launched the Employees’ Enrollment Scheme 2025 (EES 2025) to bring more workers into the fold of organized social security.
Announced during EPFO’s 73rd Foundation Day celebrations on November 1, 2025, the scheme is designed to encourage voluntary compliance by employers and extend provident fund benefits to eligible employees who have not yet been enrolled.
EPFO Employee Enrollment Scheme Duration and Objectives
The scheme will be operational from November 1, 2025, to April 30, 2026, offering a six-month window for employers to declare and register workers who were previously left out of EPFO coverage.
The primary objective is to increase formal employment, ensure financial security for workers, and promote inclusive growth by expanding the reach of EPFO’s social security benefits.
Union Minister for Labour and Employment, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, emphasized that EPFO is not merely a fund but a symbol of trust for India’s workforce.
He stated that the scheme reflects the government’s commitment to strengthening social protection mechanisms and improving compliance across industries.
Who Can Benefit
The scheme targets eligible employees who were not enrolled under EPFO despite meeting the criteria.
This includes workers in small and medium enterprises, contract staff, and those in informal setups who have remained outside the purview of provident fund contributions.
Employers who voluntarily declare such employees during the scheme period will be allowed to enroll them without facing penalties for past non-compliance.
This provision is expected to encourage honest reporting and reduce fear of retrospective liabilities, which has often discouraged companies from regularizing their workforce.
Key Features of EPFO EES 2025
- Voluntary enrollment: Employers can declare eligible employees without penalty for earlier defaults.
- No administrative charges: EPFO will waive administrative charges for the declared period.
- Simplified process: The scheme offers a streamlined digital process for enrollment through the EPFO portal.
- Focus on inclusion: Aimed at workers in sectors with low formalization rates, such as construction, textiles, and retail.
This initiative builds on the success of a similar scheme launched in 2017.
That earlier scheme helped enroll thousands of workers who had been left out between 2009 and 2016.
How It Will Help Workers
The scheme is expected to significantly improve financial security for workers by granting them access to EPFO benefits such as:
- Provident fund savings
- Pension under the Employees’ Pension Scheme (EPS)
- Insurance coverage under the Employees’ Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme (EDLI)
For many workers, especially those in the informal sector, this marks their first entry into a structured social security system.
It also improves their chances of accessing credit, housing, and other welfare schemes that require formal employment records.
Impact on Employers and Industry
Employers stand to benefit from improved workforce retention and compliance ratings.
By enrolling workers under EPFO, companies can demonstrate adherence to labor laws and enhance their reputation among stakeholders.
The scheme also helps reduce future legal risks associated with non-compliance.
Industry bodies have welcomed the move to increase the apprenticeship quota.
They noted that it aligns with broader efforts to formalize employment and improve labor standards across sectors.
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