Construction workers to get benefits under ESI Scheme

New Delhi, July 18: ESIC will now cover the construction site workers under the ESI Scheme thereby ebling them to avail benefits of complete medical care (from primary to tertiary medical care), as well as a range of cash benefits in times of exigencies of employment injury, death, disablement, maternity and unemployment. A press release on Saturday said that, the construction workers are considered to be part of un-organized sector, but keeping in view the fact that they are highly prone to accidents and sickness etc., the Central Government has decided to go ahead for extending the coverage of ESIC’s social security to them. Construction activity has been covered by the ESIC under Sec. 1(5) treating them as commercial establishment. The coverage under ESIC to a construction unit  will be extended u/s 2(12) also, if in any part of the construction unit, manufacturing process, as  defined under Factory Act, is carried on.  It may also be noted that the State government of Delhi and Kartaka have earlier requested ESIC for extending its coverage to construction site workers.