The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has initiated a special, one-time Employees’ Enrolment Campaign 2026, providing employers a crucial window to regularize the provident fund status of previously unenrolled workers. This campaign, which commenced on July 1, 2026, aims to expand social security coverage and ensure compliance for eligible employees.
Campaign Details and Deadline
Under the new campaign, employers can voluntarily declare employees who were eligible for EPF membership but were not enrolled during the period spanning from April 1, 2009, to March 31, 2026. The scheme was officially notified by the EPFO on June 29, 2026. Employers must submit all declarations by the strict deadline of October 31, 2026.
Who is Eligible?
The campaign specifically targets employees who met the conditions for EPF membership within the specified period but were inadvertently or intentionally excluded from coverage. It is crucial that the employee must be alive and still working with the establishment on the date the declaration is made. The campaign is open to both establishments already covered under EPF and those newly brought under its purview.
Relief for Employers
A significant benefit of the Employees’ Enrolment Campaign 2026 is the potential waiver of the employee's share of EPF contributions, but only if these contributions were never deducted from their wages. Employers, however, remain fully responsible for their own share of contributions, along with any applicable interest and administrative charges.
Furthermore, the campaign introduces a simplified damages framework. Instead of the usual penalties for delayed compliance, defaulting establishments will face a lump-sum damage charge of only ₹100. It is important to note that this campaign is not a blanket waiver for all past EPF liabilities; employers should carefully verify their payroll and contribution records.
How to Enroll Workers
Employers wishing to enroll missed workers can do so online through the EPFO employer portal. The enrolment process requires Face Authentication-based UAN (Universal Account Number) generation via the UMANG mobile application for the newly declared employees. Subsequently, employers must report contributions through the Electronic Challan-cum-Return process. Multiple declarations are permitted, allowing establishments to process eligible employees in batches before the October 31 deadline.