The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), Regional Office Shillong, conducted an engagement session with local employers to disseminate information on the newly approved Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme in a move to promote formal employment and enhance social security coverage in the region.
As part of the broader communication and outreach efforts, the interaction was spearheaded by EPFO RO Shillong officials, who briefed representatives from three prominent establishments.
Regional PF Commissioner II, EPFO RO, K Hungyo and officials from EPFO Shillong emphasised that the ELI Scheme not only incentivises employment generation but also strengthens India’s vision of inclusive growth and formalisation of the workforce. With social security being a critical pillar of sustainable development, the scheme is expected to encourage more employers to register under the EPF Act and offer long-term benefits to their employees, such as provident fund, pension, and insurance coverage.
The initiative formed part of the ongoing ELI Scheme awareness drive, aimed at encouraging employers to take advantage of the incentives and contribute to formal employment growth in the region. Other local media organisations were also briefed on the scheme’s objectives, eligibility criteria, and implementation process.
The Union Cabinet has approved the Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme to support employment generation, enhance employability and social security across all sectors, with special focus on the manufacturing sector.
Under the Scheme, while the first-time employees will get one month’s wage (up to Rs 15,000), the employers will be given incentives for a period of up to two years for generating additional employment, with extended benefits for another two years for the manufacturing sector.
The ELI Scheme was announced in the Union Budget 2024-25 as part of PM’s package of five schemes to facilitate employment, skilling and other opportunities for 4.1 crore youth with a total budget outlay of Rs 2 lakh crore.
With an outlay of Rs 99,446 Crore, the ELI Scheme aims to incentivise the creation of more than 3.5 Crore jobs in the country over a period of 2 years. Out of these, 1.92 Crore beneficiaries will be first timers, entering the workforce. The benefits of the Scheme would be applicable to jobs created between August 1, 2025 and July 31, 2027.
Those present at the session were Nikita Sunar, HR Executive of Hotel Centre Point, Ranjan Purkayastha, Senior Accountant of CMJ Breweries, Evangelene, PF/ESIC Administrator of Col. Shishupal Security Consultancy and Services and others.
