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The Ministry of Labour and Employment releases pamphlets that outline welfare measures for workers and family members during the pandemic. The government increases maximum EDLI benefit amounts to 7 lakhs and restores minimum assurance benefits of 2.5 lakhs. Dependent family members of insured persons who die due to COVID-19 receive monthly payments of 90 percent of average daily wages under ESIC schemes. The ESIC COVID-19 relief scheme is effective for two years starting from March 24, 2020. Grievances require resolution within 15 days for ESIC and less than 7 days for EPFO.
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Ministry of Labour & Employment
Posted On: 18 JUN 2021 2:54PM by PIB Delhi
Minister of Labour and Employment Shri Santosh Gangwarhas said that the government is committed towards the health, safety and welfare of workers. Releasing pamphlets, elaborating a slew of measures towards the welfare of workers and their family members during the pandemic here today, he said, our endeavour is to ensure the facilities reach the people for whom these have been formulated. The Minister said the government is cognizant of the evolving situation under the pandemic. He said, the Ministry would continue, if needed, to go extra miles in a resilient and responsive manner to protect the health and lives of workers and their family members, along with protecting them from hardships in these challenging times.
The Minister said, the Ministry has widened, broadened and enhanced social security benefits to the workers and that too without any additional financial obligation on the employers. The provisions of social security under ESIC and EPFO schemes are now much more relaxed and aimed at addressing the fear and anxiety of workers regarding the health and life of their family members including themselves due to increased transmissivity and fatality under the COVID-19 pandemic.
[Image omitted. See the official document.]
Under the EPFO’s Employees’ Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme, EDLI, all surviving dependent family members of the members of this scheme are eligible to avail benefits of EDLI in case of death in harness of the member. Presently, under this scheme, the benefits extended in case of death of a worker are - no requirement of minimum service for payment of Gratuity; payment of family pension as per provisions under EPF & MP Act, payment of sickness benefit of 70% of wages for 91 days in a year in the event of worker falling sick and not being able to attend the office.
[Image omitted. See the official document.]
A recent notification issued by the Ministry has also inserted following amendments:
Additionally, under ESIC, after death or disablement of the Insured Person (IP) due to employment injury, a pension equivalent to 90% of average daily wage drawn by the worker is available to the spouse and widowed mother for life long and for children till they attain the age of 25 years. For the female child, the benefit is available till her marriage.
To support the families of Insured Persons (IP) under the ESIC scheme, it has been decided that, all the dependent family members of IPs who have been registered in the online portal of the ESIC prior to their diagnosis of COVID disease and subsequent death due to the disease, will be entitled to receive the same benefits and in the same scale as received by the dependents of insured persons who die as a result of employment injury, subject to the following eligibility conditions:
For the IPs who fulfill the eligibility conditions and have died due to COVID-19 disease, their dependents will be entitled to receive monthly payment @90% of average daily wages of the insured person during their life. The spouse of the deceased worker is also eligible for medical care on nominal contribution of Rs. 120 per year. The scheme also covers COVID-19 related deaths occurring within 30 days after recovery from COVID-19.
The scheme will be effective for a period of two years from 24.03.2020. Shri Gangwar, said the grievances would be resolved within 15 days for ESIC and less than 7 days for EPFO. The details about redressal of grievances can be found-
For ESIC at the following link:
For EPFO at the following link:
https://www.epfindia.gov.in/site_docs/PDFs/Downloads_PDFs/WhatsApp_Helpline.pdf
Shri Apoorva Chandra, Labour Secretary, Shri D P S Negi, Senior Labour and Employment Advisor, Sh R.K Gupta Joint Secretary (L&E) were also present on the occasion.
MJPS/MS/jk
(Release ID: 1728186)
