EPFO: Great news for employees in private sector companies, institutions, or other organizations who have been unable to access the benefits of EPFO schemes and facilities for various reasons. The Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO), which operates under the Ministry of Labor and Employment, has introduced the Employee Enrollment Campaign (EEC). This initiative allows employees up to 17 years old to enroll in the EPFO. Those employed between April 1, 2009, and March 31, 2026, are eligible to become members.

 

Employers will need to declare online:

 

This campaign aims to include eligible employees in the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) who have not yet registered as members for any reason. All eligible establishments, whether they are already registered with the EPF or not, can submit declarations as part of this campaign. Eligible employers can declare their employees by submitting information online via the EPFO portal.

The employee’s contribution will be waived for that period

Every declared employee must create a face authentication-based UAN using the Umang app and make contributions through the Electronic Challan-cum-Return (ECR). A unique aspect of this campaign is that if the employee’s contribution was not deducted from their salary in the previous period, it will be waived for that time. The EPFO’s regional office in Varanasi has sent a letter to all industrial, commercial, educational, medical, manpower supplier, and other establishments regarding this.

Every establishment can take advantage of this scheme, regardless of whether it is already covered by the EPFO or is under investigation under Section 7A/Section 125. However, they must declare employees who were previously excluded from joining the PF during this period and who are still alive and working at the same establishment on the declaration date. The most significant benefit is that the employer will only need to pay the employer’s contribution.

A lump sum of Rs. 100 will be charged as damages, which will be considered compliant for all three schemes. Importantly, the employee’s contribution will be completely waived if it has not been previously deducted from salary. Employers are urged to enroll their excluded employees in the PF, pension, and insurance coverage coverage and clear their records.