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The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) urged establishments to utilize the Employees' Enrolment Campaign, 2026 to ensure social security for employees outside EPF coverage.
According to the Ministry of Labour & Employment, the central retirement fund body notified the scheme with effect from 29 June 2026, creating a dedicated window for establishments across sectors to regularise their past records. The initiative provides a special one-time opportunity to enrol eligible workers who remained outside formal EPF coverage between 1 April 2009 and 31 March 2026. The Ministry noted that the enrolment drive will remain operational until 31 October, serving as a structured mechanism to bring unregistered staff into the fold. The initiative focuses on expanding worker welfare while giving firms a clear route toward voluntary regularisation. "The Campaign will remain open up to 31 October 2026 and is aimed at facilitating voluntary compliance by employers and extending the benefits of provident fund, pension and insurance to eligible workers," the Ministry stated. Under the framework of the scheme, employers can declare and enrol individuals who missed coverage during the prescribed seventeen-year window, provided those workers are alive and continuing in active employment with the establishment on the date of declaration. To lower the burden on establishments coming forward, the scheme incorporates specific administrative reliefs for past omissions. "The Campaign provides specified relaxations to facilitate regularisation of past compliance, including waiver of the employee's share where it was not deducted earlier, subject to the conditions of the Campaign," the document noted. To ensure transparency and speed, the authorities mandated an entirely digital process for registrations and payments. Employers must carry out all formalities through the designated online portal. Establishments are required to generate a Face Authentication-based Universal Account Number (UAN) through the UMANG mobile application for every declared employee. Following registration, firms must remit statutory contributions through the standard Electronic Challan-cum-Return (ECR) platform. The Ministry explained that the campaign serves a dual purpose for the corporate and labour sectors. "The Campaign is intended to benefit establishments and workers by providing a structured mechanism for bringing eligible employees within the statutory social security framework," the statement said. Establishments have been advised to conduct internal audits of their employment and wage records to identify individuals who qualify under the eligibility criteria. Simultaneously, the EPFO initiated awareness and outreach programmes to inform employers, workers, contractors, and other industry stakeholders about the operational rules. Various Ministries, Central Departments, State Governments, Union Territories, Public Sector Undertakings, and Autonomous Bodies are also coordinating to ensure wider dissemination across establishments and service providers operating under their administrative oversight. Employers were reminded to finalise all pending declarations and complete remittances before the compliance window closes on 31 October 2026. (ANI)
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