SPREE 2025 scheme deadline extended till Jan 31 to expand social security coverage
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This scheme offers a one-time window for employers and employees, who have been inadvertently left out from the ESI coverage, to register without concern for retrospective coverage or punitive action.
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The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has extended the deadline for its Scheme for Promotion of Registration of Employers and Employees (SPREE) by one month, shifting the end date from December 31 to January 31, 2026. This decision followed requests from employer associations, state governments, and other stakeholders.
Launched on July 1, SPREE provides a one-time compliance window for employers and employees inadvertently excluded from ESI coverage to register without facing retrospective obligations or penalties. Official data shows 71,199 employers and 87.60 lakh employees enrolled under the scheme as of December 14.
The Ministry of Labour and Employment confirmed the extension allows additional time for new digital registrations through ESIC portals, including Shram Suvidha and MCA platforms. Employers registering under SPREE will receive coverage starting from their declared registration date, with exemptions from past contribution demands, inspections, and mandatory prior documentation.
The scheme, initially approved during ESIC’s 196th meeting in Shimla chaired by Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, aims to broaden social security coverage under the ESI Act. Establishments failing to enroll by the revised deadline risk penalties, including back-dated contributions with interest, legal action, and financial damages.
Benefits and Compliance Requirements
Registered entities benefit from streamlined compliance and statutory protections, while non-compliant organizations face intensified scrutiny post-deadline. The extension aligns with India’s Code on Social Security objectives, emphasizing ESIC’s commitment to voluntary participation and inclusive social security expansion.
Published on December 31, 2025
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