Government proposes to increase wage ceiling for availing Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) benefits under the ESI Act after improving medical services, Lok Sabha was informed on Monday.
Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya said during Question Hour that the ESIC has taken a number of decisions to improve the medical services to be provided under the ESIC and also to increase wage ceiling for availing ESIC benefits.
Mr. Dattatreya said as on March 31 there were 1.74 crore employees enrolled under the ESI Act. The estimated size of work force in the organised sector based on National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) figure (2011-12) is 2.89 crore and percentage share of ESI enrolled employees to total work force in the organised sector is 60.2.
Replying a supplementary, the Minister said cancer and other life threatening diseases are covered under the ESIC scheme and government recommends advanced treatment of such patients to empanelled multi-specialty hospitals.
Mr. Dattatreya said during current fiscal, (up to November), 56 proposals from state governments, including 28 from Kerala, were received for implementation of ESIC schemes in new areas which have been brought under coverage.
