Ministry of Labour & Employment
Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya Chairs 196th Meeting of
Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) at
Shimla, Himachal Pradesh
Launches SPREE Scheme to Expand ESI Coverage
across India
Approves Amnesty Scheme – 2025 to Reduce
Litigation and Promote Compliance
Approves Simplification of Existing Damages
Framework
Approves Revised ESI Policy of AYUSH – 2023
Approves Pilot Partnership of ESIC with Charitable
Hospitals to Improve Healthcare Access
Posted On: 27 JUN 2025 4:22PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister for Labour & Employment and Youth Affairs & Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, chaired the
196th meeting of the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) at Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, today.
The Corporation deliberated and approved several key agenda items aimed at enhancing ESIC’s operational
reach, infrastructure, and healthcare delivery.
SPREE Scheme (Scheme to Promote Registration of Employers/Employees)
The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation has approved the re-launch of SPREE (Scheme to Promote
Registration of Employers/Employees) with the objective of expanding ESI coverage across the country.
Originally introduced in 2016, the scheme successfully facilitated the registration of over 88,000 employers
and 1.02 crore employees. The renewed SPREE will be open from 1st July to 31st December 2025, offering a
one-time opportunity for unregistered employers and left-out workers—including contractual and temporary
staff—to enroll under the ESI Act. Under the scheme, employers registering during this period will be treated
as covered from the date of registration or as declared by them, while newly registered employees will be
covered from their respective dates of registration.
By focusing on voluntary compliance rather than penalization, the scheme will seek to ease the litigation
burden, encourage formal registration, and foster improved engagement and goodwill among stakeholders.
Amnesty Scheme – 2025
The ESI Corporation has approved the Amnesty Scheme – 2025, a one-time dispute resolution window from
1st October 2025 to 30th September 2026 aimed at reducing litigation and promoting compliance under the
ESI Act. For the first time, disputes along with cases involving damages and interest regarding coverage are
included. Regional Directors have been empowered to withdraw cases where contributions and interest have
been paid, and also to withdraw cases filed against insured persons over five years ago where no notices were
issued.
The scheme aims to reduce the number of litigations by providing a mechanism for the resolution of disputes
outside the court, offering employers an opportunity to come forward for a mutual settlement to promote ease
of doing business, and earn the goodwill of all stakeholders.
Simplification of Existing Damages Framework
ESI Corporation has decided to simplify its damages framework by replacing the earlier framework of graded
rates in favour of straightforward fixed rate. Further, the maximum rate of damage in the earlier framework
was 25% per annum, which has now been reduced to 1% for every month on the amount payable by the
employer. This change will promote compliance, minimize disputes and foster a more conducive regulatory
environment.
Amendments to Rajiv Gandhi Shramik Kalyan Yojana (RGSKY)
The Corporation approved the proposal to delegate powers to the Director General, ESIC, to grant
relaxation in submission of applications beyond the 12-month limit from the date of job loss under
RGSKY on case-to-case basis.
Revised ESI Policy on AYUSH – 2023
The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation has considered and approved the Revised AYUSH Policy of
ESIC. This policy focuses on integrating traditional systems of medicine such as Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani,
Siddha, and Homeopathy into the ESIC healthcare network. The aim is to promote holistic, preventive, and
wellness-oriented healthcare. It marks a strategic move to enhance the overall medical services provided to
ESIC beneficiaries.
Engagement of Yoga Therapists and Panchakarma Technicians/Attendants in ESIC
Hospitals
The Corporation has approved the engagement of Yoga therapists and Panchakarma technicians/attendants in
ESIC hospitals.
Pilot Project with Charitable Hospitals
The Corporation approved a pilot project to improve healthcare access for ESI beneficiaries by partnering
with charitable hospitals in underserved areas. These hospitals will provide comprehensive services—from
OPD to emergency care—ensuring affordable, quality treatment while advancing ESIC’s mission of social
security and welfare. The pilot will be initiated in a few districts of the country.
The 196th meeting of the ESI Corporation was attended by Ms. Dola Sen, Member of Parliament (Rajya
Sabha), Shri N.K. Premachandra, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha), Shri Ashok Kumar Singh, Director
General, ESIC, Principal Secretaries/Secretaries of the state governments, representatives of employers,
employees and senior officers from the Ministry of Labour & Employment, Govt. of India and ESIC.
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Manish Gautam/Divyanshu Kumar/Anjelina Alexander
(Release ID: 2140169)
