EPFO has asked employers to take advantage of the Employees’ Enrolment Campaign 2026 and register eligible workers who were previously left outside the provident fund system.
The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has urged employers and establishments to make use of the Employees’ Enrolment Campaign (EEC) 2026, a one-time initiative aimed at bringing eligible employees under the formal social security system.
The campaign allows establishments to enrol workers who were eligible for EPF coverage but remained outside the scheme between April 1, 2009, and March 31, 2026.
According to the Ministry of Labour and Employment, the initiative began on June 29, 2026, and employers can participate until October 31, 2026.
What Is Employees’ Enrolment Campaign 2026?
EEC 2026 has been introduced to encourage voluntary compliance by employers and help eligible workers gain access to important social security benefits, including provident fund savings, pension benefits and insurance coverage.
Under the campaign, employers can identify and declare eligible employees who were not previously covered by EPF during the specified period.
However, the employee must be alive and still working with the establishment on the date of declaration to qualify under the campaign.
Relaxation for Employers Under EEC 2026
One of the key features of the initiative is the availability of certain relaxations for regularising past EPF compliance.
For example, where an employee’s share was not deducted earlier, the campaign provides for a waiver of that employee contribution, subject to the applicable conditions and rules of EEC 2026.
This is intended to make it easier for establishments to correct previous compliance gaps and bring eligible workers into the EPF framework.
How Employers Can Enrol Workers
The Labour Ministry said employers must complete the enrolment and contribution process through the designated online system.
The UMANG app will facilitate generation of a Universal Account Number (UAN) for declared employees using face authentication.
Once employees are enrolled, the applicable contributions must be deposited through the Electronic Challan-cum-Return (ECR) system.
Employers are therefore being encouraged to examine their employment and wage records carefully and identify workers who may have been left out of EPF coverage during the eligible period.
Campaign Aims to Expand Social Security Coverage
The government said EEC 2026 is designed to provide a structured route for establishments to regularise eligible workers and expand coverage under India’s statutory social security framework.
For workers, enrolment can provide access to EPF-linked retirement savings as well as pension and insurance-related benefits.
For employers, the campaign offers an opportunity to address historical compliance issues under the specified conditions.
EPFO Steps Up Awareness Campaign
EPFO is also conducting awareness and outreach programmes to inform employers, employees, contractors, establishments and other stakeholders about the campaign and its provisions.
The Labour Ministry has further encouraged central government ministries and departments, state governments, Union Territories, public sector undertakings, autonomous organisations and other institutions to spread information about EEC 2026 among establishments and service providers operating under their respective administrative control.
With the October 31 deadline approaching, EPFO is encouraging eligible establishments to review their records and make use of the one-time enrolment opportunity within the prescribed period.