To safeguard the financial distress of the employees arising out of events of sickness, disablement or death due to employment injuries a self finance comprehensive scheme is launched which is known as the ESI scheme which protects the employees from such distress. Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (“ESIC”) is a statutory corporate body set up under the ESI Act 1948, which is responsible for administration of ESI Scheme.
In order to ensure hassle free services to employers and beneficiaries, ESIC portal provides wide range of services which includes registration, online payments, information sharing, grievance redressal and support to name a few. Bilingual (Hindi and English) Information Website “www.esic.nic.in” and Service Website “www.esic.in” are already operational.
Any employer who becomes coverable under the Act must register online (www.esic.in) within 15 days. Once registered successfully, the employer will get 17 digit unique employer code. An employer who is having the 17 digit code need not apply for fresh registration in respect of its branches located across India rather the employer can get sub-codes generated in respect of its branches. Sub-codes needs to be generated only in respect of branches located outside the jurisdiction of the regional or sub-regional office in which the main office is located.
The portal is quite user friendly and covers all compliances required under the Act. Post registration, the employer can proceed with following services under the Act without the need of visiting the ESI offices even once:
1.Registration of employers and employees
2.Issuance of Temporary Identification Card (TIC)
3.Online payment of ESI contribution by the employers or online generation of challan for contribution payment
4.Payment of cash benefits at Branch offices
5.Facilitation of Medical Care at hospitals
6.Lodge grievance online and get redressal
The employer, once allocated the employer code, can login to the employer portal and register its employees as soon as they are employed. At the time of first employment the registration of the employee needs to be done by himself under the ESI Scheme by declaring his personal details, , the details of his family members, residential place of all the family members including himself, and the dispensary in which they want to avail the medical treatment ,etc. After the registration is completed an insurance number is allocated to the employee which is unique and valid throughout the life of the employee agnostic of job changes. With successful registration of employees a Temporary Identity Card (TIC) is generated and valid for a period of three months from the date of registration within which the employee has to enroll for the Pehchan Card.
Summary of registration steps are explained below along with the screen shots:
Once clicked on sign off, the below screen will appear:
Once the details are provided properly, the below confirmation screen will prop up:
The ESI Scheme is financed by contribution from both employers and employees. The rate of contribution by employer is 4.75% and employee contribution is 1.75% of the wages paid. Employees earning less than Rs 137 as daily average wage are exempted from payment of their share of contribution. Once the employee registration is complete by employer, the insured person (IP) can log in to the IP Portal (www.esic.in/employeeportal/login.aspx) as shown below with their insurance number as the user id and ascertain the details of contribution paid on their behalf, their entitlements to various benefits prescribed by the ESIC etc.
The Scheme is applicable in implemented areas and applies to all factories and establishments, as defined in the Act, employing 10 or more employees. The wage limit currently is Rs21, 000. There are number of cash benefits (Sickness, Maternity, Disablement, Funeral expenses and medical bonus etc) and non-cash benefits (medical care for self and family) are available under the scheme for the insured person. There is no upper ceiling on medical care expenditure for the beneficiaries.
