ESIC Special Registration Drive Adds 1.12 Crore Workers and 1.38 Lakh Employers to Social Security Network

A seven-month special registration drive conducted by the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has expanded social security coverage by bringing more than 1.12 crore workers and 1.38 lakh employers into the scheme, according to data released by the Ministry of Labour & Employment.

The initiative focused on voluntary registration, encouraging eligible businesses to enrol without the threat of penalties or retrospective inspections. The campaign was designed to improve compliance while extending social security benefits to a larger section of India’s formal workforce.

Among the states, Maharashtra recorded the highest participation, with 18,515 employers registering nearly 15.99 lakh workers under the ESIC scheme. Tamil Nadu followed with 12,683 newly registered establishments covering 12.65 lakh employees, while Haryana added 7,211 employers and approximately 10.71 lakh workers.

Karnataka registered 7,944 employers, bringing around 9.74 lakh workers under ESIC coverage. Telangana enrolled 5,010 establishments with 6.12 lakh employees, while Rajasthan added 8,261 employers covering 5.84 lakh workers. Uttar Pradesh reported 1,377 new employer registrations and approximately 1.95 lakh workers joining the programme.

The latest enrolments build on ESIC’s existing coverage. As of March 31, 2025, the organisation had 3.24 crore registered employees and 3.84 crore insured persons. Labour Ministry officials have attributed the increase to continued formalisation of employment and ongoing implementation of labour reforms.

In a related measure, ESIC has also introduced Amnesty 2025, a one-time dispute settlement scheme that will remain in effect from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026. Under the scheme, employers can settle pending cases by paying outstanding contributions along with applicable interest, while penalties in the form of damages may be waived.

To speed up the process, ESIC has authorised regional directors to handle settlement applications with a target of resolving eligible cases within six months. The initiative is intended to encourage voluntary compliance, reduce legal disputes, and further strengthen the reach of social security benefits across the country.