Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana: Key Features and Provisions

The Aatmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana (ABRY) was launched by the Government of India in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to support job creation and economic recovery, especially for businesses and workers in the formal sector.

1. Objectives of the Scheme

• Employment Boost: Aims to incentivize companies to create new jobs and rehire workers who lost jobs due to the pandemic.
• Social Security for Employees: Ensures that new employees in the formal sector benefit from social security contributions by the government.

2. Key Provisions

• EPFO Contribution Support: For eligible employees, the government pays the full Employee Provident Fund (EPF) contribution (24% of wages) for two years.
• Eligible Employees and Employers: Targets organizations that register new employees or bring back workers who left due to COVID-19, mainly those with a salary up to ₹15,000 per month.

3. Eligibility Criteria

• Employee Eligibility: Employees who were not enrolled in EPFO from March 1, 2020, to September 30, 2020, or lost their job during the pandemic and rejoined after October 1, 2020.
• Employer Eligibility: Organizations with fewer than 1,000 employees and those that recruit new or rehired employees meeting the criteria.

Impact and Importance

The ABRY scheme is part of India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan (Self-Reliant India Initiative), designed to boost economic resilience by increasing job opportunities and formal sector employment. By alleviating some of the financial burdens on employers and enhancing job security for workers, the scheme plays a crucial role in India’s post-pandemic recovery.