CGHS – Medical benefits to dependent parents of Central Government Employees

CGHS – Medical benefits to dependent parents of Central Government Employees

CGHS

Medical benefits to dependent parents of Central Government Employees

 13 DEC 2019

For availing of medical facilities under Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), parents are deemed to be dependent on the Central Government employee if they are normally residing with the employee and their monthly income from all sources including pension/ family pension does not exceed Rs. 9,000 plus the amount of Dearness Relief thereon. This condition of dependency is applicable to Pensioners of State Government(s) as well.

Also check: CGHS medical facilities reimbursement to Central Government pensioners

Regarding any scheme for providing medical facility to the dependent parents of employees of private sector, The Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) Act, 1948 read with ESI (Central) Rule, 1950 provides for medical benefits to the dependent parents of the Insured person i.e. an employee who works in a factory/ establishment having 10 or more workers & registered under the said Act and drawing salary less than Rs. 21,000 per month (Rs. 25,000 in case of persons with disability). Income limit for dependency of parents from all sources is Rs. 9,000 per month. The ESI Act is not applicable to Central Government employees and their dependents.

The Minister of State (Health and Family Welfare), Sh Ashwini Kumar Choubey stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha here today.

PIB

Newly Launched Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojna to Benefit More Than 3 Crore Insured Persons

Ministry of Labour & Employment

Newly Launched Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojna to Benefit More Than 3 Crore Insured Persons

26 SEP 2018

Around 3.2 crore Insured Persons (IPs) will benefit from newly launched scheme of ESIC 'Atal Bimit Vyakti Kalyan Yojna'. The ESI Corporation has approved 'ATAL BIMIT VYAKTI KALYAN YOJNA' for Insured Persons (IP) covered under the Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948. This scheme is a relief payable in cash directly to the Bank Account in case of unemployment and while they search for new engagement. The cash benefit given to the unemployed persons searching for new employment will be 25 percent of his average earning of 90 days. Shri Gangwar was addressing on the occasion of 7th National Conference on Security and Safety at Workplace and distribution of Safety Systems Excellence Awards in New Delhi today.

Addressing the function, the Minister added that there are around six crores of workers in organized sector who are getting benefits of EPFO, ESIC and Social Security Schemes. The Union Government has taken many steps to enhance their working conditions, safety and social security in order to improve their standard of living. Present government is continuously making efforts to improve life conditions of around 40 crore workers of the unorganized sector also. In last two years nearly one crore workers have been linked with ESIC benefits and more than one crore have been brought in the fold of EPFO. Pradhan Mantri Jeewan Jyoti Beema Yojna and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Beema Yojna  are totally free for unorganized workers. He further said that nearly 3 crore workers are benefitting from these Social Security Schemes.

The honorarium of 14 Lakh Aanganwadi workers have been increased from Rs. 3,000 per month to Rs. 4,500 per month. Likewise, honorarium of Aanganwadi helpers has also been increased from Rs. 1,500 to Rs. 2,250 per month. The incentive of AASHA workers has also been doubled, he added.

Shri Gangwar further said that the Ministry is making efforts to increase employment opportunities through Pradhan Manrti Rojgar Protsahan Yojana. Twelve per cent of the Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) contribution of new employees is being given by government so that employers may not have to bear this cost. The government has spent Rs. 1,744 crores for this EPF contribution for around 72 Lakh employees of nearly 87,000 organizations in last two years.

The Minister congratulated all the winners of Safety Systems Excellence Awards and expressed hope that all the participants of this conference will gain from the ideas discussed on this forum.

PIB

Expansion of ESI Hospital Services

Expansion of ESI Hospital Services

The Employees State Insurance (ESI) Corporation has taken a number of reform initiatives to expand the services of ESI Hospitals in the country. The ESI Corporation in its 167th meeting decided to establish ESI hospitals and dispensaries based on geographical necessity i.e. the health facility should be created not based on the present Insured Persons population but on the basis of projected population of the Insured Persons after a period of three years for dispensaries and five years for hospitals. Also, ESI Corporation has accepted the recommendation of 46th Indian Labour Conference to upgrade its dispensaries into 6 and 30 bedded hospitals in phased manner.

This information was given by Shri Bandaru Dattatreya, the Minister of State (IC) for Labour and Employment, in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

PIB

Maternity Leave in Private Sector

Maternity Leave in Private Sector

Maternity benefits to workers in the private sector are regulated under Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) Act, 1948 and Maternity Benefit (MB) Act, 1961. The Government has already enhanced paid maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks for up to two surviving children under the ESI Act,1948 vide notification dated 20.01.2017. So far as enhanced benefits under MB Act, 1961 are concerned, the Government introduced Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill, 2016 before Rajya Sabha. The said Bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha on 11.08.2016 and Lok Sabha has also passed the Bill with some amendments on 09.03.2017.

Both the Acts provide for protection of rights of working women through robust and proper mechanism including inspections by the field officers. The Acts provide for stringent penalties, including imprisonment, for violations of its provisions to ensure proper implementation.

This information was given by Shri Bandaru Dattatreya, the Minister of State (IC) for Labour and Employment,in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today.

PIB

Enhancement of Maternity Leave - Lok Sabha Q&A

Enhancement of Maternity Leave - Lok Sabha Q&A

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 672
ANSWERED ON: 06.02.2017

Maternity Leave

SHASHI THAROOR
Will the Minister of

LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:-

(a)whether the Government proposes to extend the time span of the compulsory paid maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks in private organizations;
(b)if so, the details thereof;
(c)whether the Government also proposes to amend section 4 of the Maternity Benefits Act, 1961, to ensure that women employed in various public sector undertakings receive the same benefit; and
(d)if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

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

(a) & (b): Yes, Madam. The Government has decided to enhance the paid maternity leave from existing 12 weeks to 26 weeks and an Amendment Bill in this regard was introduced in the Rajya Sabha. The Rajya Sabha has already passed the Bill on 11.08.2016. With regard to women workers covered under Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948, such enhancement has already been effected by amending the ESI (Central) Rules,1950.

(c) & (d): There is no proposal to amend Section 4 of the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961. The benefits under this Act are already applicable and available to women employed in various public sector undertakings.

Authority: www.Loksabha.nic.in

30 lakh to benefit from new EPF limit

30 lakh to benefit from new EPF limit

The move will help 1.2 crore people who will now be eligible for health care benefits.

The Centre's move to increase the wage ceiling for employee coverage under the Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952, to Rs 25,000 per month from the existing Rs 15,000 per month limit is expected to benefit a larger working population and include approximately 30 lakh more workers to the Employees State Insurance (ESI) pool.

The move would also benefit 1.2 crore more people who will now be eligible for health care benefits at more than 1,500 clinics and hospitals run by the ESIC directly or indirectly. Earlier as of March 31, 2016, there were around 2.1 crore persons who were insured under the ESI Act and a total of over 6 crore beneficiaries. Employees and employers contribute to the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation at the specified rates, which are currently, 1.75 per cent of the wages (employee’s contribution) and 4.75 per cent of the wages (employer’s contribution) paid/payable in respect of the employees in every wage period.

However, the increased wage ceiling is expected to pose a challenge to employers in terms of the wage costs to be borne by them, said Nishith Desai Associates, legal and tax councillors.

Employers, it noted, would now be required to make provisions of cash benefit and health insurance for an extended employee population who draw wages up to Rs 21,000 per month. It also sees this as a challenge for the government to ensure that the quality of medical facilities (including hospital infrastructure) provided under the ESI Act are improved such that the desired benefit is achieved. It is a positive move with the objective of expanding the ambit of social security schemes to a larger working population.