ESIC extends medical benefits to on-site construction workers

The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has taken steps to extend medical benefits to on-site construction workers.  ESIC’s Second Generation Reforms Agenda or ESIC 2.0 was launched by PM Narendra Modi on Monday. 

At present, medical benefits under ESIC are granted to employees working in the office of construction companies as they are treated as organised workers. But the ESI Scheme will now cover a large group of unorganised workers employed by companies at their construction sites. These workers were deprived of medical care.

Apart from medical care, on-site workers can avail cash benefits in times of exigency such as injury, death or disablement caused while at work, maternity and unemployment. Construction activity has been covered by the ESIC under Section 1(5) treating it as an establishment.

The scheme has been implemented in 31 states and Union Territories. The Corporation is taking steps to cover Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur and Andaman & Nicobar Islands under the scheme by December 31, 2015. 

The scheme is being implemented in a phased manner, especially in industrial/ commercial clusters. 

As of now, it has covered 830 centres in 393 districts across the country involving 2.03 crore insured persons (IPs). However, the scheme is yet to cover the entire area of the districts. The Corporation aims to cover all 393 districts by March 31, 2016.

Sickness benefit is paid to the insured person at the rate of 70 <g data-gr-id="35">per cent</g> of the average daily wages till 91 days in two consecutive <g data-gr-id="37">benefit</g> periods.  Under disability benefit, the insured person is paid 90 <g data-gr-id="44">per cent</g> of the average daily wages as long as <g data-gr-id="42">temporary</g> disability lasts. For permanent disability, 90 <g data-gr-id="45">per cent</g> of the average daily wages is paid for life. 

Dependants’ benefit is paid at the rate of 90 <g data-gr-id="48">per cent</g> of the average daily wages <g data-gr-id="47">sharable</g> in fixed proportion among all dependents if the insured person dies due to employment injury. This is payable to his widow, dependent children or parents. 

Maternity benefit is paid at the rate of 100 <g data-gr-id="41">per cent</g> of the average daily wages till 12 weeks in case of bed rest, till six weeks in case of miscarriage.  One of the biggest benefits is medical care for the IP and his/ her family from the first day of getting enrolled in the scheme.