What is the news : The pension coverage under the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) scheme has been extended to all registered dependents of those who died due to Covid-19.

Details:  It has also reiterated the announcement of the expansion of the insurance benefits under the Employees’ Deposit-Linked Insurance (EDLI) scheme for members registered under the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO).

Benefits:

• The benefits for employment-related death cases are being extended to those who have died due to Covid.
• All dependent family members of such persons will be eligible for a pension equivalent to 90 per cent of the average daily wage drawn by the worker
• Benefit will be available retrospectively with effect from March 24 last year till March 24, 2022.
• Benefit- Maximum Rs 7 Lakh and minimum 2.5 lakh
• Available to even those employees who may have changed jobs in the last 12 months preceding his/her death.

Who are covered under ESIC and EPFO?

• All factories and notified establishments employing 10 or more persons
• Employees drawing wages up to Rs 21,000 per month (Rs 25,000 for persons with disabilities).

Scope: It covers about 3.49 crore of family units of workers and provides cash benefits and medical facilities to 13.56 crore beneficiaries.

Contribution: The EDLI scheme is managed on the basis of contribution of 0.5 per cent of monthly wages paid by the employer to the fund and there is no employee contribution.