ESIC scheme adds around 1.28 million new members in January

Around 12.84 lakh new members joined ESIC-run social security scheme in Jan 2021 against 15.34 lakh in the previous month, official data showed on Friday

Around 12.84 lakh new members joined the ESIC-run social security scheme in January 2021 against 15.34 lakh in the previous month, official data showed on Friday, giving a perspective on formal sector employment in the country.

The latest data is part of a report released by the National Statistical Office (NSO).

Gross new enrolments with Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) were 10.78 lakh in April, 8.91 lakh in May, 10.68 lakh in June, 13.42 lakh in July, 13.47 lakh in August, 13.57 lakh in September, 12.47 lakh in October and 10.44 lakh in November 2021, the latest data showed.

June, July and August figures show an increase in enrolments after easing of COVID-induced restrictions by states post the second wave of the pandemic that hit the country in mid-April last year.

The NSO report showed that gross enrolments of new subscribers with ESIC were 1.15 crore in 2020-21, compared to 1.51 crore in 2019-20 and 1.49 crore in 2018-19.

From September 2017 to March 2018, around 83.35 lakh new subscribers joined the ESIC scheme.

The report said gross new enrolments with ESIC from September 2017 to January 2022 were 6.21 crore.

The NSO report is based on the payroll data of new subscribers of various social security schemes run by ESIC, the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) and Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA).

It has been releasing such data of these bodies since April 2018, covering the period starting September 2017.

According to the report, net new enrolments with retirement fund body EPFO stood at 15.29 lakh in January 2022, up from 12.60 lakh in December 2021.

It showed that from September 2017 to January 2022, around 5.08 crore (gross) new subscribers joined the Employees' Provident Fund scheme.

The report, titled 'Payroll Reporting in India: An Employment Perspective - January 2022', said since the number of subscribers is from various sources, there are elements of overlap, and the estimates are not additive.

NSO also said the report gives different perspectives on the levels of employment in the formal sector and does not measure employment at a holistic level.