The new social security code law, expected to kick in by year end, will extend services under the existing Employees' State Insurance Act to all 740 districts of the country.
To achieve full coverage, the labour ministry has ied up with hospitals empanelled under the Ayushman Bharat scheme and has alreadt launched a pilot project in about four districts where ESIC services have begun to be made available.
In a key upgrade to the earlier law, the new social security code law will also allow employers to sign up for the EMployees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) and the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) on a voluntarily basis, if they have less than mandatory numbers defined in the statute.
As present, organisatrions with 10 or more employees are mandated to provide social security through insurance under the ESI Act to all employees who earn less trhan Rs. 21,000 per month. Similarly, orhanisations that employ 20 or more persons are mandated by law to provide provident fund benefits under the EPF Act to employees.
