A release by assistant PF commissioner (officer-in-charge), S Saka said that the scheme has been implemented from October 1, 2020. It has been designed for companies, industrial bodies, firms and even NGOs or societies, and employees working in such companies, firms and societies and are enrolled with effect from October 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021.

The salient features of the scheme are, Government of India will provide subsidy for two years in respect of new employees engaged on or after October 1, 2020 and up to June 30, 2021. Both 12 per cent employees’ contribution and 12 per cent employers’ contribution i.e. 24 per cent of wages towards EPF will be paid in respect of new employees in establishments employing up to 1,000 employees for two years. Government of India will also pay only employees’ share of EPF contribution i.e. 12 percent of wages in respect of new employees in establishments employing more than 1,000 employees for two years, the release said.

It further said that an employee drawing monthly wage of less than Rs 15,000, who was not working in any establishment registered with the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) before October 1, 2020 and did not have a Universal Account Number or EPF Member account number prior to October 1, 2020 will be eligible for the benefit.

Any EPF member possessing Universal Account Number (UAN) and drawing monthly wage of less than Rs 15,000 and exited from employment during COVID-19 pandemic from March 1, 2020 to September 30, 2020 and did not join employment in any EPF covered establishment up to September 30, 2020 will also be eligible to avail the benefit, it added.

EPFO will credit the contribution in Aadhaar seeded account of members in electronic manner. For further details and assistance, any person may contact EPFO Special State Office, Imphal or e-mail to sso.imphal@epfindia.gov.in, the release said.