1.03 Crore New Workers Added to ESIC | 19 Jan 2026
Recently, the Union Labour Ministry announced that reforms in Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) and Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), particularly the Scheme to Promote Registration of Employers/Employees (SPREE), have extended social security coverage to over one crore workers.
- Under SPREE, a one-time, penalty-free window enabled unregistered employers and employees to enter the ESIC system without retrospective liabilities, resulting in the registration of 1.17 lakh employers and 1.03 crore employees(as of 11 January 2026).
- The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) administers the Employees’ State Insurance Scheme (ESI) under the Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948, providing socio-economic protection against sickness, maternity, disablement, employment injury, and ensuring medical care for insured workers and their dependent families.
- Parallel EPFO reforms have eased access to provident fund benefits by allowing withdrawal of up to 75% of the balance while retaining 25% for retirement, alongside expanded auto-settlement of claims through simplified processes.
- The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is a statutory body under the Ministry of Labour & Employment, administering provident fund and pension schemes under the Employees’ Provident Fund & Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952, and is among the world’s largest social security organisations.
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