Good news for casual and contractual employees of Municipal bodies! Now you can avail THESE ESI benefits

All the casual and contractual workers working in the municipal bodies in the country are now covered under the Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948 (ESI Act), the Ministry of Labour and Employment said.

As per the information, the coverage shall be extended to those casual and contractual employees/ agencies/ establishments which are within the implemented areas already notified under the ESI Act, 1948 by the central government.   ​

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"Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment Santosh Gangwar today (Thursday) announced the decision to extend coverage under the Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948 (ESI Act) to all casual and contractual workers working in the municipal bodies in the country," the ministry said in a statement.

The Union Minister informed that various municipal bodies in different States and Union Territories in the country employ a large number of casual and contractual workers.

However, not being regular employees of the Municipal Corporations/Municipal councils, these workers remain out of the social security net making them a vulnerable lot. He said, this important decision has been taken to address this issue.

The ESI Corporation has been directed to take up the matter with the States/ UTs, being the appropriate government under the ESI Act, for issue of notification for coverage of casual and contractual workers in the Municipal Corporations/ Councils in their respective jurisdictions.

He added that ESI coverage of casual and contractual employees working with municipal bodies shall go a long way in providing social security cover to a very vulnerable segment of the workforce. This shall contribute to social upliftment of this segment of workforce and their families.

For the National Capital Region of Delhi, the Central Government being the appropriate government under the ESI Act, the Ministry of Labour and Employment has already issued intention notification dated June 7, 2021, for coverage under the ESI Act of casual and contractual employees working with Municipal Corporations/ Council in the NCT of Delhi.

Once the respective States and UTs issue the notification for ESI coverage, the casual and contractual workers working with municipal bodies will be able to avail the full gamut of benefits available under the ESI Act such as sickness benefit, maternity benefit, disablement benefit, dependent’s benefit, funeral expenses etc.

These workers will also be eligible to avail medical services through vast network of ESI facilities that is 160 hospitals and over 1500 dispensaries all over the country.