EPFO Officer Trainees Begin NLU Training Phase Under India’s New Legal Framework

Addressing the trainees, Shri Rohit emphasized that their induction coincides with one of the most significant legal restructuring eras in India’s history.

The National Law University phase of the six-month Induction Training Programme for the 2025 batch of Direct Recruit Enforcement and Accounts Officers (EO-AO) of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) was inaugurated today at Gujarat National Law University (GNLU). The programme was formally launched by Shri Kumar Rohit, Director, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya National Academy of Social Security (PDUNASS).

The ceremony was attended by Prof. (Dr.) S. Shanthakumar, Director GNLU; Shri Sudeepta Ghosh, Additional PF Commissioner, Gujarat Zone; and Dr. Nitin Malik, Registrar, GNLU.

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A Landmark Training Phase Amid India’s Legal Transition

Addressing the trainees, Shri Rohit emphasized that their induction coincides with one of the most significant legal restructuring eras in India’s history. The rollout of:

• Four Consolidated Labour Codes

• Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita

• Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita

• Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam

represents a comprehensive modernization of labour regulation, criminal justice, and compliance frameworks.

“You are the first batch to train under this reformed legal ecosystem,” he remarked, urging officers to transition from a model of enforcement-driven compliance to collaborative governance.

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Shifting Role: From Inspectors to Compliance Facilitators

Shri Rohit highlighted that EPFO officers are now expected to operate not just as regulators, but as support partners for businesses—especially MSMEs—helping them navigate compliance requirements and contribute to India’s ease of doing business vision.

“Our role is not only to verify compliance but to enable it through trust, guidance, and partnership,” he said.

He further reminded the trainees that their decisions will directly affect millions of workers relying on social security and retirement protection, stressing the importance of empathy, fairness, and ethical governance.

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Proposed Joint Diploma Programme in Labour Law and Social Security

During the visit, discussions were held with GNLU leadership regarding the launch of a three-month Joint Diploma Programme, aimed at:

• HR leadership

• Compliance professionals

• Labour law practitioners

• Industry decision-makers

The programme intends to combine:

• GNLU’s legal academic expertise

• PDUNASS training systems

• Practical exposure from EPFO field operations

Once launched, it is expected to become a flagship national credential for labour reforms, compliance systems, and social protection governance.

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Strengthening India’s Social Security Governance

The collaboration between PDUNASS and GNLU is part of a broader effort to enhance professional competence in India’s social security ecosystem and support future-ready workforce governance in alignment with Viksit Bharat 2047 goals.