Meeting held on implementation of ELI Scheme in Himachal Pradesh

Shimla July 17

A meeting for implementation of Employment Linked Incentive Scheme (ELIS) was held here today to strategize the roll-out of the ELI Scheme in the state besides enhancing awareness amongst the stakeholders, particularly employers and employees in an organized sector and ensure its seamless coverage.

The meeting was chaired by Secretary Labour & Employment Priyanka Basu Ingty.

She emphasized upon the importance of social security and incentivizing long-term employment which the ELI Scheme aims to promote. Detailed discussions were held on setting up awareness camps, organizing joint workshops with employer associations, industrial bodies and trade unions to disseminate information.

It was also discussed that the many State PSUs/State government. departments have engaged their employees through contractors but many such contractors are not complying under Employees Provident Fund (EPF) Act.

The Labour Secretary directed the State Labour Department to co-ordinate with Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) for successful implementation of ELI Scheme so that maximum employer’s and employees of the state can get the designated benefits. She also informed about organizing awareness programmes regarding EPF compliance of contractors with DDOs of all State Public Sector Undertakings/State Government Departments in due course.

Detailing about ELI Scheme, she said that the ELI Scheme was to support employment generation, enhance employability and social security across all sectors with special focus on the manufacturing sector and aims to incentivize the creation of jobs in the State.

Under Part ‘A’ of the scheme, first-time employees registered with EPFO will get one-month EPF wage up to Rs. 15,000 in two installments. Employees with salary upto rupees one lakh will be eligible. The first installment will be payable after 6 months of service and the second installment will be payable after 12 months of service and completion of a financial literacy programme by the employee.

The Part ‘B’ of the scheme is related to creation of additional employment in all sectors with special focus on manufacturing sector. Under this part, the government will incentivize employers upto Rs. 3,000 per month for two years, for each additional employee. The benefit of the scheme for the manufacturing sector will also be given for the third and fourth year.

The Regional Provident Fund Commissioner Rakesh Kumar suggested to hold a awareness programme with the DDOs of all State PSUs/State government departments to make them aware about contractors compliance so that their employees can also get benefits of ELI Scheme.

He informed that EPF Office Shimla is also updating the details of ELI Scheme on its Social Media handles every day and employers are also made aware about the scheme through e-mail.

Labour Commissioner Dr. Virender Sharma was also present in the meeting.