The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) called on employers on Thursday to take advantage of its special enrolment initiative, which offers a six-month compliance period for the voluntary enrolment of eligible employees who were excluded from EPF coverage in the past, specifically from July 1, 2017, to October 31, 2025.

EPFO has introduced the Employees’ Enrolment Scheme (EES)-2025, a unique one-time facilitation program designed to broaden EPF coverage and address previous non-compliance issues in a straightforward and employer-friendly way, according to an official announcement.

The EES-2025 includes a special compliance period of six months beginning in November 2025, allowing employers to voluntarily register eligible employees who missed out on EPF coverage during the previous timeframe and to rectify previous non-compliance.

Organizations that have yet to be covered under the EPF Act are invited to apply for inclusion in this campaign and subsequently declare and enroll such qualified employees, the announcement stated.

Under the EES-2025, when employee contributions were not deducted before, employers will only need to pay the employer’s portion of contributions, along with interest as per Section 7Q, necessary administrative fees, and penal charges capped at a one-time payment of Rs 100, which will be recognized as complete compliance across all three EPFO schemes.

Businesses under assessment inquiries are also qualified for the scheme. Additionally, benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rojgar Yojana may also apply, subject to the scheme’s conditions and requirements.

The EPFO has encouraged all employers to seize this time-sensitive opportunity and support the national goal of “Social Security for All.”

For this purpose, EPFO will reach out to identified defaulting employers via SMS and email, urging them to make use of the EES 2025 one-time relaxation to rectify their defaults.

A nationwide awareness initiative has been launched to educate employers regarding the advantages and features of the scheme.

At the same time, discussions have been initiated with various government entities to facilitate the inclusion of contractual and casual workers within the EPF system, the statement added.