So far as benefits under Employees State Insurance (ESI) Scheme are concerned, the ESI Corporation has already launched/approved two separate schemes to provide medical facilities to selected category of self-employed workers like Auto-rickshaw drivers and domestic workers and their family members on pilot basis at Delhi/Hyderabad. Construction workers in offices of the construction agency situated in the implemented areas were already covered under ESI Scheme. Subsequently, w.e.f. 01.08.2015, ESI Scheme has also been extended to the construction site workers deployed in implemented areas.
With regard to Employees Provident Fund, the EPF & MP Act, 1952 is applicable to notified industry/establishment employing 20 or more persons. Auto-rickshaw drivers generally fall under unorganized sector and majority of them are self-employed persons. The said Act has been extended to establishments engaged in Building and Construction Industries w.e.f. 31.10.1980. The workers engaged by these establishments are extended EPF benefits subject to the provisions of EPF & MP Act, 1952.
Further, for extending the social security benefits to Scheme workers like Anganwadi, ASHA and Mid-day Meal workers, a Committee has been set up under the Chairpersonship of Secretary (Labour & Employment).
This information was given by Shri Bandaru Dattatreya, the Minister of State (IC) for Labour and Employment, in reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.
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