SPREE 2025 extended till January 31 on employers, states' request

The labour ministry has extended the SPREE 2025 deadline to January 31, 2026 after requests from employers and state governments, keeping 'no past dues' and no inspections benefit

The deadline for the Scheme for Promotion of Registration of Employers and Employees (SPREE 2025) under the Ministry of Labour and Employment has been extended to January 31, 2026 from the earlier deadline of December 31, 2025. 

The SPREE 2025 scheme was launched by the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) in July, 2025 to expand social security coverage and encourage voluntary registration of employers and employees under the Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948 (ESI Act).  

The scheme was originally operational from July 1 to December 31, 2025 for unregistered employers and left-out workers to be included in the ESI framework without undergoing inspections or facing demands for past dues or penalties. According to a statement by the labour ministry, the deadline was extended after receiving feedback from employers, employers’ associations, and state governments. 

 

Now, employers will have another month 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 scheme and do not register under the ESI Scheme then such establishment will be liable to pay past contributions along with damages & interest besides legal actions and penalties after January 31, 2026,” said the ministry’s statement.