Labour Ministry Extends Social Security Coverage to Workers in Andaman & Nicobar

The Ministry of Labour and Employment has introduced two special one-time schemes aimed at bringing uncovered employers and employees under the ambit of statutory social security in line with the Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948, and the Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952.

Under existing provisions, employers are mandatorily required to register their factories or establishments and ensure coverage of all eligible employees drawing wages within the prescribed threshold limits under the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) and the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC). However, authorities have observed that a section of employers and employees continue to remain outside the coverage of the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) and Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) schemes.

To address this gap and encourage voluntary compliance, the Ministry has launched the Employees’ Enrollment Scheme (EES)–2025 and the Scheme to Promote Registration of Employers and Employees (SPREE). These initiatives are designed to extend social security benefits to uncovered establishments and workers without invoking retrospective coverage or penal action.

According to official guidelines, SPREE provides a six-month window for voluntary registration, effective from July 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025. Employers and employees registering during this period will be deemed covered from the date declared by them. Importantly, no records or compliance requirements for the prior period will be sought under the scheme, offering relief to establishments hesitant to register due to concerns over retrospective liabilities.

The Employees’ Enrollment Scheme (EES)–2025, on the other hand, focuses on enrolling eligible employees who were left out of EPF coverage in the past. This scheme allows employers to voluntarily enroll such employees for the period between July 1, 2017, and October 31, 2025. The special enrollment window for EES–2025 will remain open from November 1, 2025, to April 30, 2026.

Officials said the twin schemes are part of a broader effort to widen the social security net and ensure that workers receive benefits such as provident fund savings, insurance coverage, and medical support under the statutory framework. By removing the fear of penalties and retrospective scrutiny, the Ministry aims to bring more establishments into formal compliance.

The schemes are particularly significant for small and medium enterprises, as well as workers in sectors where formal registration has traditionally been low. Authorities believe that voluntary participation under these schemes will strengthen the overall social security ecosystem and improve long-term financial protection for the workforce.

Eligible but uncovered employers and employees have been urged to take advantage of EES–2025 and SPREE within the stipulated timelines. The Ministry of Labour and Employment has appealed to stakeholders to ensure timely registration and enrollment so that workers can access statutory benefits under the EPF and ESI frameworks.

Officials reiterated that the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to inclusive growth and labour welfare by ensuring that no eligible worker is left outside the social security system due to procedural or compliance-related barriers.