The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has introduced a special scheme to help employers voluntarily bring eligible employees under EPF coverage for past periods of non-compliance.
This initiative is designed to expand social security coverage and simplify the regularisation of employees who were left out between July 1, 2017, and October 31, 2025.
One-Time Enrolment Window: EES-2025
The scheme, called the Employees’ Enrolment Scheme (EES)-2025, offers a six-month window starting November 2025.
During this period, employers can voluntarily enrol employees who were previously excluded from EPF coverage.
Establishments that were not covered under the EPF Act earlier can also apply for coverage during this window.
This allows them to regularise past lapses without facing long litigation or complex proceedings.
The initiative is aimed at easing compliance while ensuring employees receive their rightful benefits.
Relief for Past Defaults
Under EES-2025, employers who did not deduct employee contributions earlier will get significant relief.
They will only need to deposit the employer’s share of contributions with interest, along with applicable administrative charges and a capped penalty of Rs 100.
This payment will be treated as full compliance across all EPFO schemes.
The scheme also allows establishments under assessment inquiries to participate.
Eligible employers can also avail benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rojgar Yojana, subject to the scheme’s conditions.
EPFO Encourages Participation
EPFO has called this a time-bound opportunity and urged employers to participate in the national vision of “Social Security for All”.
To ensure wider participation, the organisation will contact identified defaulting employers through SMS and email, encouraging them to regularise pending compliances.
A nationwide awareness campaign has also been launched to familiarise employers with the scheme’s provisions and benefits.
EPFO is also working with government authorities to include contractual and casual workers under the EPF framework.
This initiative provides employers with a simple, time-bound path to compliance while expanding the reach of social security benefits to more employees.
