EPFO urges employers to enrol uncovered workers under special drive: Check last date, eligibility and process

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has urged establishments to make use of the Employees’ Enrolment Campaign, 2026 to regularise their past records and ensure that eligible employees who remained outside EPF coverage can now access social security benefits.

The scheme, which came into effect on June 29, 2026, provides a special one-time opportunity for companies to enrol workers who remained outside formal Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) coverage between April 1, 2009 and March 31, 2026, the Ministry of Labour & Employment said in a press release on Saturday.

What is the last date to enrol?

Establishments have time until October 31, 2026 to take advantage of this campaign, which aims to facilitate voluntary compliance by employers and extend the benefits of provident fund, pension and insurance to eligible workers.

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 has an active employment status with the establishment on the date of declaration.

To lower the burden on establishments coming forward, the scheme also provides 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 release noted.

How can firms register employees under the scheme?

Employers are required to generate a face authentication-based Universal Account Number (UAN) through the UMANG mobile application for every declared employee. Once the registration is done, the statutory contributions must be remitted through the Electronic Challan-cum-Return (ECR) platform.

As part of the process, establishments have also been asked to conduct internal audits of their employment and wage records to identify individuals who qualify under the eligibility criteria.

The fully digital process for registrations and payments seeks to ensure transparency and avoid any hassle. Employers must carry out all formalities through the designated online portal only.

Who will benefit from this scheme?

The ministry explained that the campaign is intended to benefit establishments and workers by providing a structured mechanism for bringing eligible employees within the statutory social security framework.

Simultaneously, EPFO is also undertaking extensive awareness and outreach activities to inform employers, workers, contractors, and other industry stakeholders about the campaign's 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 control.

Employers have been encouraged to make use of this one-time opportunity and complete the enrolment of eligible employees before the campaign closes on October 31, 2026, the ministry press note said.