**Executive Summary**
The Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has extended the Scheme for Promotion of Registration of Employers and Employees (SPREE 2025) until January 31, 2026. This extension provides unregistered employers with more time to join the ESI framework without facing past liabilities. Failure to register by this date will result in liability for past contributions, damages, interest, legal actions, and penalties.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **SPREE 2025 Extension:**
* The SPREE 2025 scheme has been extended until January 31, 2026.
* The scheme was originally launched by ESIC and operational from July 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025.
* **Purpose of the Scheme:**
* Aims to enhance social security coverage under the ESI Act.
* Offers unregistered employers and employees the opportunity to join the ESI framework.
* **Benefits of Registration:**
* Employers registering within the extended timeframe will benefit from "no demand of past contribution," no inspections, and no requirement of prior records.
* Registration can be done digitally through ESIC, Shram Suvidha, and MCA portals, with registration effective from the date specified by the employer.
* **Consequences of Non-Registration:**
* Employers failing to register under the ESI Scheme by January 31, 2026, will be liable to pay past contributions along with damages, interest, legal actions, and penalties.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Unregistered Employers**
* **Impact:** Given an additional opportunity to register under the ESI scheme and avoid past liabilities.
* **Action Required:** Must register their businesses and employees digitally through the ESIC, Shram Suvidha, and MCA portals by January 31, 2026, to avail the benefits of the scheme.
**Stakeholder: ESIC**
* **Impact:** Reinforces commitment to promote voluntary compliance and expand social security coverage in India.
* **Action Required:** Continue promoting SPREE 2025 and facilitating registration through digital portals.
**Stakeholder: Employees**
* **Impact:** Increased opportunity for social security coverage under the ESI Act.
* **Action Required:** Encourage unregistered employers to register under the scheme.
Key Entities Referenced
SPREE 2025: Scheme for Promotion of Registration of Employers and Employees launched by ESIC, providing benefits to unregistered employers and employees for joining the ESI framework.
ESIC: Employees' State Insurance Corporation, regulator and implementer of the SPREE 2025 scheme.
ESI Act: The primary legislation under which social security coverage is being enhanced by the SPREE scheme.
Code on Social Security: Recently implemented code that aligns with the objectives and goals of SPREE 2025 in expanding social security coverage in India.
Ministry of Labour & Employment: Government ministry responsible for Labour & Employment.
Ministry of Labour & Employment
SPREE 2025 Extended Till 31 January 2026: ESIC
Offers More Time for Employers to Join Without
Past Liabilities
One-Month Extension to SPREE 2025 Reinforces ESIC’s Push
for Inclusive and Simplified Compliance
प्रव तथ: 31 DEC 2025 3:33PM by PIB Delhi
In view of representation received from Employers, Employers’ association and State governments, the
Scheme for Promotion of Registration of Employers and Employees (SPREE 2025) launched by ESIC and
operational for a period from 1st July, 2025 to 31st December, 2025 has been extended for a period of one
month from 01.01.2026 to 31.01.2026.
The SPREE scheme was approved during the 196th Meeting of ESI Corporation in Shimla, chaired by Dr.
Mansukh Mandaviya, Union minister for Labour & Employment and Youth Affairs & Sports, and is aimed
at enhancing social security coverage under the ESI Act. The Scheme offers a unique opportunity for
unregistered employers and employees to become part of the ESI framework without undergoing
inspections or facing demands for any previous dues or records.
With this extension, employers have additional time to register their businesses and employees digitally
through the ESIC, Shram Suvidha, and MCA portals, with registration effective from the date specified by
the employer. Establishments that were previously not registered will also benefit from the provision of
‘no demand of past contribution’, no inspections, and no requirement of prior records, if they register
within the new timeframe. If the employer fails to avail the benefits of the SPREE Scheme and do not
register their establishment under the ESI Scheme then such establishment will be liable to pay past
contributions along with damages & interest besides legal actions and penalties after 31.01.2026.
The extension of SPREE 2025 until January 31, 2026, demonstrates ESIC's commitment to promote
voluntary compliance and expanding the social security coverage in India, which aligns with the
objectives & goals of recently implemented Code on Social Security.
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Rini Choudhury/Anjelina Alexander
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