EPFO's Major Campaign: Will Employees Left Out Get Interest or Face a Loss?

The EPFO ​​has launched the 'Employee Enrolment Campaign (EEC) 2026,' under which eligible employees who were previously left out will be enrolled for PF, pension, and insurance benefits for the period from April 1, 2009, to March 31, 2026. The campaign will run until October 31, 2026.

If you are employed but have not yet come under the EPFO's coverage for some reason, this news is relevant to you. The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has initiated the Employee Enrolment Campaign (EEC) 2026 to bring eligible employees into the fold of benefits like PF, pension, and insurance. Significantly, this campaign allows employees who were eligible but remained outside the PF system between April 1, 2009, and March 31, 2026, to be covered by these benefits.

The campaign will continue until October 31, 2026. A key highlight is the substantial relief provided to employees regarding PF contributions for the past period. This raises the question: will employees lose out on the money or interest for the years when PF was not deposited? Let us find out.

What happens to the past PF and interest?

The most significant aspect is the major relief offered to employees under this campaign. If the PF component was not deducted from the employee's salary during the past period, the employee will not be required to deposit that past employee contribution now. In other words, employees who previously received their full salary (without the PF deduction) will not be asked to pay the employee's share for that past period.

On the other hand, the employer is required to deposit their share of the PF contribution starting from the employee's stated date of joining. Additionally, they must pay the applicable interest for the past period, administrative charges, and a one-time compensation of ₹100. This clearly indicates that the employee will not have to pay the past employee contribution and the accrued interest out of their own pocket.

Which employees will not benefit from this?

Not every employee can be included in this campaign. Specifically, employees who left the concerned company or institution prior to the application date cannot be included.

What should employees do?

If you believe you remained outside the EPFO ​​ambit over the past few years despite being eligible for PF coverage, you should discuss this with your employer.

First, verify your date of joining and past salary records.
Check whether PF deductions were made from your salary during the relevant period.
If PF coverage was not provided, discuss enrollment under EEC 2026 with your employer.

The deadline for the campaign is October 31, 2026; therefore, ensure the process is completed in time.

How will registration under EEC 2026 take place?

The responsibility for registering you under this campaign lies with the employer. For every eligible employee, a UAN (Universal Account Number) must be generated using face authentication via the UMANG app. Subsequently, the required statutory contributions will be deposited through the Electronic Challan-cum-Return (ECR).