Narendra Modi’s cabinet, on 9th December 2020, gave a green signal to Atmanirbhar Bharat Rojgar Yojana (ABRY) under Atmanirbhar Bharat Package 3.0 in efforts to boost ongoing employment and motivate new employment opportunities in the Covid-recovery phase of the country. An expenditure of Rs. 1,584 crore was approved for the current fiscal year and the total expenditure for the entire scheme period (2020-2023) was sanctioned at Rs. 22,810 crores.
- GOI has approved to provide subsidy for two years to new employees who began/will begin working within the period of 1st October, 2020 to 30th June, 2021.
- In enterprises that employ up to 1000 employees for two years, GOI will pay both 12% employee’s contribution and 12% employer’s contribution (which accounts to a total of 24% of wages) towards EPF with respect to new employees.
- In enterprises that employ more than 1000 employees for two years, GOI will pay only 12% employee’s contribution towards EPF with respect to new employees.
- Eligibility
- If you were not working in any enterprise registered with the EPFO (Employee’s Provident Fund Organization) and did not have a Universal Account Number (UAN)/EPF Member Account Number before 1st October, 2020 and currently draw a salary of less than Rs. 15000 a month, you are eligible.
- If you’re an EPF Member who has a Universal Account Number (UAN) but left employment during the Covid-19 pandemic (1st March, 2020-30th September, 2020) and did not join employment in any EPF covered enterprise till 30th September, 2020, and currently draw a salary of less than Rs. 15000 a month, you are eligible.
- Procedure
- EPFO shall deposit the mentioned contributions into the Aadhar-linked accounts of eligible persons through electronic transfers.
- EPFO shall also construct a dedicated software for ABRY and develop a system that is both transparent and entails accountability.
- EPFO shall ensure that there is no overlapping of benefits of this scheme with other schemes that are currently operational under EPFO.