Lok Sabha Question No. 1220 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-02
Subject: Expansion of EPF Coverage
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: S.SELVAKUMARA CHINNAYAN

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1220 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.05.2016

## EXPANSION OF EPF COVERAGE

## 1220. SHRI S. SELVAKUMARA CHINNAYAN:

Will  the  Minister  of  LABOUR  AND  EMPLOYMENT  be  pleased  to state:

- (a)whether  the  Government  has  any  proposal  to  bring  construction workers and auto drivers under EPF coverage and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)whether the Government proposes to extend medical facility under ESIC scheme even after the retirement of the employees and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)whether the Government  has  received requests from various quarters in this regard; and
- (d)if so, the details thereof along with action taken by the Government
- thereon?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)

- (a): The  Employees'  Provident  Funds  &  Miscellaneous  Provisions (EPF  &  MP)  Act,  1952  applies  to  every  establishment  specified  in Schedule  I  and  establishments  specified  by  Central  Government  by notification in official gazette  wherein  20  or  more  persons  are employed.    The  establishments  engaged  in  building  &  construction industry were brought under the purview of the Act with effect from 31 st   October,  1980.    Therefore,  all  construction  workers  working  in establishments  employing  20  and  more  employees  are  eligible  for membership of Schemes framed under the Act.  As the Act applies to establishments  and  not  a  particular  class  of  employees,  only  such commercial auto drivers who are working in establishments covered under the Act, are eligible for membership of Schemes framed under the Act.

(b): As  per  Rule  61  of  Employees'  State  Insurance    (ESI)  (Central) Rules, 1950, 'an Insured Person  (IP) who  leaves  the insurable employment on attaining the age of superannuation or retires under a Voluntary  Retirement  Scheme  (VRS)  or  takes  premature  retirement after  being  insured  for  not  less  than  five  years  shall  be  eligible  to receive  medical  benefit  for  himself  and  his  spouse  at  the  scale prescribed under the Employees' State Insurance Act, 1948  and the regulations made therein under  Rule 61 of ESI (Central) Rules,1950 on payment of contribution at the rate of ten rupees per month in lump sum for one year at a time  in advance  subject to production of proof of  his  superannuation/VRS/Pre-mature  retirement  and  having  been  in insurable employment for five years.'

(c): Employees'  State  Insurance  Corporation  (ESIC)  had  received requests from various quarters regarding extension of medical facility under above provisions to the widows of the retired employees also.

(d): On  the  basis  of  requests  from  different  corners,  the  scope  of Medical  Benefit  has  been  extended  to  widow  spouses  of  deceased retired/superannuated IP and widow spouses of Insured Persons who cease  to  be  in  an  Insurable  Employment  on  account  of  permanent disablement (full or partial) in accordance with  Rule 60 & 61 of ESI (Central) Rules, 1950.  This benefit is also made available to widows of Insured Persons who are in receipt of Dependent Benefit.

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