EPFO Launches “VISHWAS, 2026” for Amicable Settlement of Damages/Penalty/-Related Disputes

The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has launched ‘VISHWAS, 2026’, a one‑time, six‑month scheme (effective 29 June 2026) to amicably settle disputes concerning damages or penalties under Section 14B of the EPF Act, 1952 and Section 128 of the Code on Social Security, 2020. The scheme offers reduced interest rates – 0.25 % per month for defaults up to two months, 0.50 % for two‑to‑four months, and 1.00 % for defaults beyond four months – provided employers have fully paid the statutory interest and commit not to appeal further. It covers four categories of cases, excludes fraud‑related or fully recovered cases, and operates through a fully digital application process via the EPFO Employer Portal with dedicated VISHWAS cells for implementation.