Universal social security in India cannot be achieved without bringing unorganised workers into contributory schemes. Examine the role of EPFO and the Code on Social Security, 2020.

In contributory schemes, workers and employers pay in regularly. This builds benefits that last and pay for themselves, which tax-funded welfare alone cannot sustain. EPFO is India's largest such body, holding ₹32 lakh crore for over 8 crore members [1]. Yet its reach stops at the formal payroll, which is why the question's premise largely holds.

Role of EPFO

• Formalisation through incentives: PM-VBRY (outlay ₹99,446 crore, from August 2025) pays job incentives through EPFO registration [4]. Over 70 lakh first-time employees were formalised by June 2026 [5].
• Amnesty for hidden workers: under the Employee Enrollment Scheme 2025, employers can declare unenrolled staff for a ₹100 penalty [3].
• Bundled protection: members also get EDLI insurance cover of ₹2.5–7 lakh [6], along with PF and pension.
• Easier access: the CITES 2.01 platform has cut average settlement time to 2.57 days. Aadhaar-verified inoperative accounts up to ₹1,000 are now settled automatically, which often helps migrant workers [1].

Role of the Code on Social Security, 2020

• Consolidation: it replaces nine laws, including the EPF Act, 1952. EPF, EPS and EDLI are run by a Central Board of Trustees [2].
• Coverage beyond the employer: it enables schemes for gig, platform and unorganised workers. Aggregators contribute 1–2% of turnover, capped at 5% of what they pay these workers [2].

Limits

• Design gap: EPFO needs an employer and a payslip. Vendors and farm labourers have neither, so reaching unorganised workers "at the last mile" remains a goal [1].
• Registration is not job creation: 70 lakh registrations still trail the target of 3.5 crore jobs [4][5].
• Inadequate pensions: the EPS-95 minimum pension has stayed at ₹1,000 since 2014 [7]. Withdrawal is allowed after one month of contributions [6], which breaks the years of service a pension depends on.
• Weak deterrence: low-penalty amnesties may reward employers who evaded the law [3].

Way forward

• Make the Code's gig-worker schemes fully operational, with state co-contribution for workers who have no employer.
• Extend the IPPB doorstep model (Digital Life Certificates at ₹50 each, paid by EPFO [8]) to fixing KYC mismatches.
• Review the EPS minimum pension, and commission an independent evaluation of PM-VBRY.

Contributory schemes are the backbone of lasting universal coverage. EPFO's proactive, technology-led delivery and the Code's gig-worker provisions are the base to build on. To succeed, they need state support for informal workers, adequate pensions and help with enrolment. Only then can India meet Article 41's call for public assistance in old age and SDG target 1.3 on social protection for all.