3K firms to be targeted under ELI scheme in Dakshina Kannada

Mangaluru: Regional office of Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) aims to target 2,500 to 3000 establishments in Dakshina Kannada under newly introduced Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme to support employment generation, enhance employability and social security across all sectors, with special focus on the manufacturing sector.

“The officials hope that through the scheme, about 20,000 to 25,000 employment in DK will be generated,” said Regional PF Commissioner Rajib Mukherjee to mediapersons.

To reach out to the employers on the scheme, the EPFO is organising camps at various establishments to create awareness about the scheme. The EPFO regional office in Mangaluru is planning to hold two such camps every month, he explained.

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.

He said 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 two 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.

He said targeting first-time employees registered with EPFO, the scheme will offer one-month EPF wage up to Rs 15,000 in two installments.

Employees with salaries up to Rs 1 lakh will be eligible. The employers will get incentives in respect of employees with salaries up to Rs 1 lakh. The government will incentivise employers, up to Rs 3000 per month, for two years, for each additional employee with sustained employment for at least six months. For the manufacturing sector, incentives will be extended to the 3 and 4 years as well, he added.

Higher pension

To a query on higher pension, the Commissioner said that there are no pending cases pertaining to higher pension in the district. As many as 1060 people are availing higher pension.

When asked on defaulters in connection with the PF, he said Rs 1.8 crore has been recovered in three months.