Regional Provident Fund Commissioner M. Subrahmanyam has urged employers in Karnataka to actively participate in the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PM-VBRY) and to make full use of the Employees’ Enrolment Scheme 2025 introduced by the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) under the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
Addressing a press conference at his office in Kalaburagi on Wednesday, Mr. Subrahmanyam said that the PM-VBRY, which came into effect from August 1, 2025, was aimed at incentivising the creation of over 3.5 crore jobs across India within two years, with an outlay of ₹99,446 crore. The scheme encourages employers to create new jobs while extending financial benefits to both employers and first-time employees, he added.
“Under Part A, first-time employees registered with the EPFO and earning up to ₹1 lakh per month will receive an incentive equivalent to one month’s EPF wage, up to ₹15,000, in two instalments. The first instalment will be paid after six months of service, and the second after one year, along with completion of a financial literacy course,” he said.
According to the officer, the scheme will benefit the employers as well under Part B, which offers incentives of up to ₹3,000 per month for each additional employee retained for at least six months. “Establishments registered with EPFO must hire at least two new employees (if their workforce is below 50) or five (if 50 or more) to qualify. For the manufacturing sector, the incentive period will extend up to four years,” he said adding that payments would be made directly to employees via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to their Aadhaar-linked accounts and to employers to their PAN-linked accounts
Six-month window for voluntary enrolment under EPFO
Giving details on the Employees’ Enrolment Scheme 2025 launched on November 1, Mr. Subrahmanyam said that scheme would provide a six-month window for employers to voluntarily enrol eligible workers who, for any reason, were left out of EPF coverage between July 1, 2017, and October 31, 2025. The scheme will remain open till April 30, 2026, he added.
“The scheme promotes voluntary compliance, ensures universal EPF inclusion, and simplifies past regularisation. The employee’s share for the declared period will be waived, while the employer needs to remit only their share, interest, administrative charges, and a nominal penalty of ₹100 per establishment,” he said.
When asked, the officer clarified that no legal action would be taken against establishments that voluntarily comply under this scheme, which supports the government’s goal of ‘Social Security for All.’
Digital submission of life certificate through Jeevan Pramaan
Mr. Subrahmanyam appealed to pensioners to make use of Jeevan Pramaan (Digital Life Certificate) – a system that allows them to authenticate their identity through facial recognition using any Android smartphone with a 5MP front camera and internet access.
“Pensioners can download the ‘AadhaarFaceRd’ and ‘Jeevan Pramaan Face’ apps from the Google Play Store, authenticate themselves through Aadhaar-linked bank or post office accounts, and submit their digital life certificates online without visiting offices. This initiative will make pension disbursal seamless and convenient for senior citizens, especially those in remote areas,” he said.
He also informed that EPS-95 pensioners can now submit their Life Certificates digitally at any time of the year, with each certificate valid for one year from the date of submission. Certificates can be submitted through banks, Common Service Centres (CSCs), India Post or IPPB offices or postmen, the MANG app, or EPFO offices by keeping their PPO number, Aadhaar number, bank details, and Aadhaar-linked mobile number ready.
Account Officers Madan Kulkarni and Arslam Kittur were present.
Published – November 13, 2025 11:13 am IST
