New Delhi, Aug. 9 -- The Association of Industries and Institutions (New Delhi) has urged the government to reconsider a directive by the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation mandating (EPFO) Aadhaar-based facial authentication for generating universal account numbers (UANs), claiming that the move is triggering significant operational disruptions for employers. The industry body, having over 7,000 members, wrote to labour and employment minister Mansukh Mandaviya, urging the Centre to retain the UMANG app and the Unified Employer Portal as options for UAN generation. The association, which includes private and public sector enterprises, SMEs, and multinational corporations, flagged the EPFO's 30 July circular as problematic for sectors marked by high attrition, limited smartphone access, and low digital literacy. The EPFO mandate, effective 1 August, requires UAN allotment and activation exclusively via UMANG app. UMANG or Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance is a government-developed mobile platform that offers citizens seamless access to a range of central, state, and select private sector services, through a single, user-friendly interface. Although it aims to streamline workflows and enhance identity verification, the association warned it may result in compliance challenges. It also urged the Centre to retain multiple access points to ensure smoother transition. "This is to submit, with profound concern, our representation regarding the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation's (EPFO) recent mandate ... requiring the allotment and activation of the 12-digit Universal Account Number (UAN) exclusively through the UMANG (Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance) App using Aadhaar-based Face Authentication Technology (FAT), effective 1st August 2025," the letter said. "We fully acknowledge and appreciate EPFO's efforts to promote digital transformation, efficiency, and transparency. However, the present directive has been introduced without adequate consideration of its practical challenges and widespread operational implications, thereby creating significant compliance bottlenecks for employers and stakeholders," it added. A copy of the letter has been reviewed by Mint. Among its key recommendations, the association called for reinstating UAN generation via Unified Employer Portal and UMANG app, arguing that a dual-channel approach would help prevent any administrative delays and ease compliance burdens. It also proposed that facial authentication be positioned as optional, and a self-service feature for digitally equipped employees, rather than a mandatory step for all. A ministry spokesperson did not respond to queries....