SPREE 2025 program deadline extended to January 31 to expand social security coverage

This scheme provides employers and employees, who have been unintentionally excluded from ESI coverage, a one-time period to register without having to worry about retroactive coverage or punitive measures. | Photo credits: iStock

This scheme provides employers and employees, who have been unintentionally excluded from ESI coverage, a one-time period to register without having to worry about retroactive coverage or punitive measures. A total of 71,199 new employers and 87.60 lakh employees have been added till December 14 this year, Ministry of Labor and Employment officials said.

The ministry said this was following a representation from employers, employers’ organizations and state governments to extend the deadline, which was previously December 31.

Employers who register with this scheme will be covered from the date of registration or the date specified by them, according to the ministry.

The SPREE program was approved at the 196th meeting of ESI Corporation in Shimla, chaired by Mansukh Mandaviya, Minister of Labor and Employment and Youth Affairs and Sports. It aims at improving social security coverage under the ESI Act.

Benefits and losses

With this expansion, employers will have more time to register their companies and employees digitally through the ESIC, Shram Suvidha and MCA portals, the ministry said.

Establishments that were previously unregistered will also benefit from the provisions of ‘no demand for past contributions’, no inspections and no requirement for prior registration, if they register within the new time frame.

If the employer fails to avail the benefits of the SPREE scheme and does not register its establishment under the ESI scheme, then such establishment will be liable to pay past contributions along with damages and interest, in addition to legal actions and penalties after January 31, 2026.

The extension of SPREE 2025 till January 31, 2026 demonstrates ESIC’s commitment to promote voluntary compliance and expand social security coverage in India, which is in line with the aims and objectives of the recently implemented Social Security Code, the ministry said.

Published on December 31, 2025