ESIC hikes wage ceiling to 21,000

The Employees State Insurance Corporation has increased the monthly wage limit to Rs 21,000, Union Minister of State for Labour Bandaru Dattatreya said here Sunday.

"Earlier coverage under ESIC scheme was enhanced to Rs 15,000 in 2010. Now, government has taken a decision to hike the coverage from Rs 15,000 to Rs 21,000," he told PTI. He said that the government was also strengthening the health infrastructure for the benefit of



workers. The upward increase in revision would add about 35 lakh new members to the ESIC pool, Dattatreya said.

At present, 2.14 crore persons were enrolled under this scheme. A notification in this regard had been issued on October 6 and invited suggestions and objections from all stakeholders. The government was also strengthening the health infrastructure by upgrading dispensaries into six-bedded hospitals, the Minister said.