Apart from benefit hike, recent ESIC move to make jobless claims easier too

Relief would be given after 30 days of unemployment as against 90 days at present; no burden on exchequer as ESIC has surplus funds

Members of the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) who were laid off during the Covid period in the organised sector can claim 50 per cent of their average salaries of the past two years as unemployment benefit.

This decision to hike the benefit from the current 25 per cent to 50 per cent was taken by the Corporation at its meeting on Thursday. The money will be given under the Corporation’s Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyna Yojna. 

Hypothetically, if the salary of a sacked person is Rs 21,000 a month in the last two years--those above this level being ineligible for