Context:
The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), during its 196th Corporation Meeting chaired by Union Labour & Employment Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya in Shimla, approved SPREE 2025 (Scheme for Promotion of Registration of Employers and Employees). This initiative is aimed at expanding social security under the ESI Act, 1948.
Key Highlights of SPREE 2025
- Duration of the Scheme:
- July 1 to December 31, 2025
- Objective:
- Promote voluntary registration of unregistered employers and employees, including contractual and temporary workers, under the ESI Act.
- Registration Process:
- Employers can register digitally via the ESIC portal, Shram Suvidha portal, and MCA portal.
- Registration will be valid from the date declared by the employer.
Significance of the Scheme
- Encourages voluntary compliance by removing fears of:
- Retrospective penalties
- Legal action
- Backdated financial demands
- Helps bring left-out establishments and workers under the ESI umbrella, especially in contractual and informal sectors.
- Aligns with India’s vision of a welfare-centric and inclusive labour ecosystem.
What is ESIC?
The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation provides healthcare, insurance, and social protection to workers under the ESI Act, 1948, covering medical, maternity, disability, and unemployment benefits.
