Domestic workers to be brought under ESI fold soon: Bandaru Dattatreya

Domestic workers to be brought under ESI fold soon: Bandaru Dattatreya

Employers need to contribute Rs 200 monthly towards ESI scheme that will enable medical facilities for domestic workers, said Union Minister.

Labour Ministry will soon launch a social security scheme for domestic workers on pilot basis in Delhi and Hyderabad as part of Central government’s commitment to provide health insurance for all, Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya said on Sunday.

“We will roll out a new scheme to bring domestic workers under the ESI fold. This scheme intends to provide ESI facilities to domestic workers. Employers need to contribute Rs 200 monthly towards this scheme that will enable medical facilities for domestic workers,” Dattatreya told reporters.

“We have decided to start the scheme soon as pilot project in Delhi and Hyderabad … we will involve NGOs also besides will talk to state governments to make the scheme better,” the Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment said, adding that Rs 200 per month contribution by employers will provide medical insurance for domestic workers and his/her family.

eiterating government’s commitment to bring all the unorganised sector workers under social security schemes, he said the process has begun to include around five crore construction workers to provide them with EPF and ESI facilities.

On Rajya Sabha recently passing the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill 2016, that provides for 26 weeks maternity leave, Dattatreya said India will move to third position in terms of the number of weeks for maternity leave after Norway and Canada. “The Bill will benefit over 1.8 million women workers,” he mentioned.

Source:Indian Express