Government approves scheme to provide cash during job loss

Taking into account the lack of long-term employment, the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has taken some important steps towards financially securing the ones who have lost their jobs. At a meeting on Wednesday chaired by Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment Santosh Kumar Gangwar, the ESIC took decisions towards improvements in its services and benefits to insured persons and their dependents.

Considering the change in the employment pattern and the current scenario of employment in the country, the ESIC has approved a scheme by the 'Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojna'  for Insured Persons (IP) covered under the Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948. This scheme is a relief payable in cash directly to their bank accounts in case of unemployment while they search for a new job.  Detailed instructions including eligibility conditions, application format, etc. will be issued separately, the ministry said in a statement.

The ESIC has approved the proposal for reimbursement of Rs 10 per person to the employers to encourage the seeding of Aadhaar in ESIC database of their workers and their family members. It will curtail multiple registrations of same insured persons and thus enable them to avail the benefits requiring longer contributory conditions.

The corporation further approved a reimbursement of Rs.10 per person to employers for seeding the Aaadhar details of their workers and their family members on the ESIC database. This will enable the insured with benefits that require longer contribution.

"It will curtail the multiple registrations of same Insured Persons and thus enable them to avail the benefits requiring longer contributory conditions," it said.

For super specialty treatment, the ESIC relaxed the eligibility condition by reducing the requirement of insurable employment of two years to six months with contribution requirement of only 78 days.

The corporation also approved the proposal to increase the funeral expenses from existing Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 to be paid on the death of insured person.