EPFO Employees’ Enrolment Campaign 2026: Deadline, Benefits & UAN Face Authentication Update

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation has rolled out the Employees’ Enrolment Campaign (EEC) 2026, and if you are an employer who has inadvertently left some eligible employees out of the EPF net, this is the compliance window you have been waiting for.

Think of it as an olive branch from the EPFO. This one-time opportunity allows businesses to voluntarily enrol employees who were missed between 1 April 2009 and 31 March 2026 without facing the usual heavy penalties . The campaign has been active since 1 July 2026 and will close on 31 October 2026, leaving you with just a couple of months to act .

Understanding the Big Relief

The most significant advantage here is the financial relief. If you haven’t deducted the employee’s share of the provident fund contribution from their wages during this period, that amount is completely waived . You are only required to deposit the employer’s share along with the applicable interest and administrative charges. Moreover, the penal damages for non-compliance have been capped at a nominal lump sum of ₹100 per establishment .

What You Need to Know About the Process

The process is completely digital, but there have been some recent changes to the EPFO portal that you need to be aware of. To enrol your employees, you must use the UMANG app for UAN generation, which now requires Aadhaar-based Face Authentication . This is no longer possible directly through the older portal method, as the EPFO has revamped its digital infrastructure under EPFO 3.0 and moved UAN activation and generation to the UMANG platform .

Once the UAN is generated, you need to remit the contributions through the Electronic Challan-cum-Return and link the declaration on the EPFO Employer Portal using a Temporary Return Reference Number .

Who is Eligible and Important Caveats

All establishments are eligible to participate, regardless of whether they are under existing inquiries under the EPF Act . However, declarations can only be made for employees who are alive and currently working with you on the date of declaration . You are allowed to make multiple declarations throughout the campaign period .

Another crucial update is that employers availing of this scheme may also become eligible for benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PM-VBRY), subject to conditions, making it a doubly beneficial move .

A Word of Caution

While this is a fantastic opportunity to regularize past compliance and extend social security benefits to your workforce with a minimal financial burden, it is essential to ensure you follow the guidelines strictly. If a declaration is made for an employee who had their share deducted earlier, the waiver will not apply.

Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. The information is based on current guidelines and notifications from the EPFO. Employers are strongly advised to consult with a qualified professional or refer to the official EPFO circulars to understand the full implications of the Employees’ Enrolment Campaign 2026 before making any declarations .