EPFO: Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) has extended the deadline to activate the Universal Account Number (UAN) to avail benefits under the Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme. Now the last date for linking UAN with Aadhaar has been made 15 January 2025. Earlier this deadline was 30 November 2024, which was later extended till 15 December 2024 and now it has been extended once again. EPFO has appealed to all eligible members to complete this process before the new deadline so that there is no hindrance in availing the benefits of the scheme. Linking Aadhaar and bank account is necessary to avail benefits under this scheme.
EPFO issued instructions
The Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) has instructed all employers to activate the Universal Account Number (UAN) of their employees and link the bank account with Aadhaar. This process is mandatory to avail the benefits of Employment-Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme. Employers have been advised to update the information of all, starting with their new employees, so that the benefits of the scheme can be availed on time.
Objective of ELI Scheme
The ELI scheme was launched by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Union Budget 2024. Its objective is to increase employment and encourage companies to recruit new employees. The scheme is divided into three parts:
Plan A: Companies will get a subsidy of ₹15,000 on hiring new graduates, which will be given in three installments.
Plan B: There is a special scheme for the manufacturing sector, in which companies on new recruitment will get ₹ 3,000 per employee monthly for two years.
Plan C: General incentives will be given to increase the workforce in various industries.
Why is it important to activate and link UAN?
EPFO has said that the UAN of all members should be linked to Aadhaar and active. It allows the employee to view PF passbook, make online claim and update his/her information. Apart from this, Aadhaar link is necessary to get the benefits of any government scheme directly in the bank account.
UAN Activation Process
Visit EPFO portal: https://unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in/memberinterface/
Click on ‘Activate UAN’ and enter UAN number, Aadhaar number, date of birth and mobile number linked to Aadhaar.
Verify through OTP and generate password.
Last date and benefits
Employers must ensure that all employees complete this process by January 15, 2024, to avail the benefits of the ELI scheme.
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