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Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Bengaluru's public sector undertaking contract workers to join nationwide protest on July 9
Bengaluru: Several public sector undertakings (PSUs) in Bengaluru could face staff shortages on July 9, as thousands of contract workers plan to join a nationwide protest against the Centre's new labour code. The protest was announced during a convention held at Gandhi Bhavan by the Govt and Public Sector Non-Permanent Workers Joint Forum (Bengaluru), with the participation of workers from HAL, BEML, BEL, DRDO, BWSSB, Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited, and others. Forum leaders said nearly 23,000 contract workers are affected in Bengaluru alone. Many have served over 15 years, yet remain on temporary rolls. They argue the new labour code weakens job security, eases hiring and firing, and restricts union rights. Their key demands include regularising Group C and D roles, revising the minimum wage to Rs 42,000, and removing the Rs 23,000 cap under the ESI Act. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru Chandrashekar of the HAL Contract Workers Association said the govt avoids regularisation of jobs to cut costs, despite rising inflation. Women workers highlighted poor facilities, unsafe commutes, and a lack of workplace dignity. The rally will begin at Town Hall and culminate at Freedom Park, aiming to spotlight the worsening conditions of outsourced and temporary workers in PSUs and government offices.
India Gazette
27-06-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
Mansukh Mandaviya chairs 196th meeting of Employees' State Insurance Corporation in Shimla
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], June 27 (ANI) Union Minister for Labour and Employment and Youth Affairs and Sports, Mansukh Mandaviya, chaired the 196th meeting of the Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) at Shimla, Himachal Pradesh on Friday. According to an official release, the Corporation deliberated and approved several key agenda items aimed at enhancing ESIC's operational reach, infrastructure, and healthcare delivery. 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 July 1 to December 31, 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. The ESI Corporation has approved the Amnesty Scheme - 2025, a one-time dispute resolution window from October 1 to September 30, 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. 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 cent per annum, which has now been reduced to 1 per cent for every month on the amount payable by the employer. This change will promote compliance, minimize disputes and foster a more conducive regulatory environment. 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. 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. The Corporation has approved the engagement of Yoga therapists and Panchakarma technicians/attendants in ESIC 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 Dola Sen, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), NK Premachandra, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha), 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 and Employment, Govt of India and ESIC. (ANI)
Time of India
27-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
ESIC approves amnesty and registration scheme for its beneficiaries
The Employees' State Insurance Corporation has approved the second phase of the SPREE scheme, relaunching it from July 1 to December 31, 2025, to encourage employer and employee registration. Additionally, the Amnesty Scheme 2025, offering a one-time dispute resolution window, will be available from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Amnesty Scheme – 2025 Simplification of existing damages framework The Employees' State Insurance Corporation , on Friday, approved the second phase of the scheme to promote registration of employers or employees ( SPREE scheme ) while giving its go ahead to the amnesty scheme 2025 allowing one-time dispute renewed SPREE will be open from July 1 to December 31, 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.'The Employees' State Insurance Corporation has approved the re-launch of SPREE with the objective of expanding ESI coverage across the country,' the ministry of labour and employment said in a statement after the 196th meeting of ESIC under the chairmanship of labour and employment minister Mansukh introduced in 2016, the scheme facilitated the registration of over 88,000 employers and 10.2 million employees.'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,' it the Amnesty Scheme – 2025, a one-time dispute resolution window will be available from October 1, 2025 to September 30, 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,' it said, adding 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 order to promote compliance, minimize disputes and foster a more conducive regulatory environment, ESCI will simplify its damages framework by replacing the earlier framework of graded rates in favour of straightforward fixed rate besides reducing the rate of damage to 1% every month as against 25% per the corporation has approved amendments to Rajiv Gandhi Shramik Kalyan Yojana (RGSKY) under which powers will be delegated 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 a pilot project to improve healthcare access for ESI beneficiaries through charitable hospitals in underserved areas has also been approved.
