Awareness event on Employees State Insurance Scheme conducted

The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation, under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India, in collaboration with the State Labour Department, organized a special awareness program on the Employees State Insurance Scheme for employers and workers in the organized sector. The event took place in the Conference Hall of the Directorate of Employment, Skill Development, and Entrepreneurship, Kohima, on August 29, 2024, and was chaired by Neimenuo, Assistant Labour Commissioner, Kohima.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Kohima, Rhosietho Nguori NCS, delivered a short speech on the importance and nobility of the scheme. He noted that despite the scheme’s implementation in Kohima in 2019, there remains a lack of awareness among the local populace and requested more such awareness programs for registration under the scheme.

L. Tsanglao, Deputy Director of the Employees State Insurance Corporation and Co-ordination Officer for the State of Nagaland, highlighted the ESI Scheme through a PowerPoint presentation. He explained that the ESI Act of 1948 was the first major legislation on social security for workers in India and is implemented by the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation, a statutory body under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India, in collaboration with State Governments. He briefed the gathering that the ESI Scheme is a comprehensive social security scheme for workers in the organized sector and their dependent families, providing both cash and medical care to beneficiaries/insured persons.

He detailed that the scheme provides medical care to insured persons and their dependent family members from the date of joining insurable employment, including primary, secondary, and super specialty treatments through its own healthcare facilities and tie-up hospitals. Cash benefits are provided for wage compensation during sickness, employment injury, disablement, maternity, death in the course of employment, funeral expenses, confinement expenses, medical care to retired insured persons, and other benefits. He also mentioned that the wards of insured persons are eligible for ESIC quotas for medical courses in ESIC-run medical colleges.

Tsanglao explained that the ESI Act applies to factories and other establishments such as hotels, restaurants, cinemas, newspapers, shops, and private educational and medical institutions employing 10 or more workers, with a wage limit of Rs. 21,000 (up to Rs. 25,000 for persons with disabilities). The scheme is financed by contributions from employers and employees, at 3.25% and 0.75% of the total wages, respectively.

He further informed that by registering under the scheme, employers benefit by being absolved of all liabilities related to providing medical facilities to employees and their dependents. Employers are also exempt from the Maternity Benefit Act and the Employees Compensation Act, and contributions under the ESI Act are exempt from the Income Tax Act. Additionally, employers are exempt from paying the employer’s share for up to 3 years when employing persons with disabilities. This leads to a productive, well-secured, and healthy workforce for better productivity.

Employers with 10 or more employees are required to mandatorily register under the scheme through the SHRAM-SUVIDHA PORTAL, obtain an employer code, and subsequently register all employees up to the wage ceiling limit of Rs. 21,000, generating an Employee Insurance Number valid for the employee’s lifetime.

The discussion was led by L. Tsanglao, Deputy Director, ESIC, and K. Guite, Branch Manager, ESIC Branch Office, Dimapur.

In her concluding remarks, Avile Vitso, Joint Labour Commissioner, Nagaland, and CEO of the ESI Scheme Nagaland, thanked all participants, urged them to register under the scheme, and requested them to spread the message further. She also provided contact details for officials to assist with grievances.

The special awareness program concluded with a free health check-up camp led by Dr. Kenei, Insurance Medical Officer, ESI Scheme Dispensary Kohima.

MT