AATMANIRBHAR BHARAT ROZGAR YOJANA (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 - Employment)

Context: The Central Government's innovative employment incentive scheme, the Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana (ABRY), has exceeded its initial employment generation goals, showcasing its success in fostering job creation and recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• As of July 31, 2023, the ABRY has already achieved an enrolment of over 7.58 million new employees, surpassing its initial employment generation target.

Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana (ABRY)

• About: Launched effectively from October 1, 2020, the ABRY was designed to stimulate the creation of new job opportunities by extending financial support to employers of establishments registered with the Employees' Provident Fund Organization (EPFO). 

• Under this, Government of India will provide subsidy for two years in respect of new employees engaged on or after 1st October, 2020 and up to 30th June, 2021.
• Government will pay both 12% employees’ contribution and 12% employers’ contribution i.e. 24% of wages towards EPF in respect of new employees in establishments employing upto 1000 employees for two years.
• Government will pay only employees’ share of EPF contribution i.e. 12% of wages in respect of new employees in establishments employing more than 1000 employee for two years.

• Beneficiaries:

• An employee drawing monthly wage of less than Rs. 15000/- who o was not working in any EPFO registered establishment and did not have a Universal Account Number (UAN) prior to 01st October, 2020 who joins employment in any establishment on or after 01.10.2020 up to 31.03.2022 and who is allotted Aadhaar validated UAN.
• Any EPF member, already allotted with UAN, who made exit from employment during the period from 01.03.2020 to 30.09.2020 (Covid Pandemic) from any establishment and who joins in any establishment on or after 01.10.2020 and up to 31.03.2022.
• The incentive is payable by the Central Government by upfront credit in the UANs of the new employees.

• Eligibility criteria for Establishments: Establishments registered with EPFO if they add new employees compared to reference base of employees as in September, 2020 as under:

• minimum of two new employees if reference base is 50 employees or less.
• minimum of five new employees if reference base is more than 50 employees.