Awareness-cum-medical health camp held in Mokokchung

DIMAPUR — In a joint effort between the Labour Department, Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) and Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), an awareness-cum- medical health camp was conducted at the Chuchuyimlang Senso Telongjem Fellowship Hall at Penli Ward, Mokokchung, on Friday.

Senior labour inspector from the Assistant Labour Commissioner office, Mokokchung, Zaremo Kikon, delivered the introductory speech and Chumlamo Humtsoe, ADC Mokokchung, also addressed the awareness camp, a DIPR report stated.

A presentation on the benefits of the Employees State Insurance (ESI) and the role and responsibilities of employers in enrolling their employees was presented by Khankhanmung Guite, branch manager of ESIC office, Dimapur. Guite explained that ESI is a social security health insurance scheme under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, administered by the ESI Corporation.

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This scheme is applicable to factories and other establishments with 10 or more employees whose salary is INR 21,000 or less. ESI is financed through contributions from both employers and employees at rates of 3.25% and 0.75%, respectively.

The benefits include medical benefits for insured individuals, their spouses and dependents, as well as sickness benefits, disablement benefits, dependent benefits and maternity benefit, Guite said.

He also informed that employers not registered with the scheme could face penalties, including interest and damages, in addition to mandatory contributions retrospectively.

Establishments were encouraged to register with the scheme promptly and that registration can be done through the Shram Suvidha portal.

A presentation on the Employees Provident Fund (EPFO) was highlighted by Rohit Singh, Regional Provident Fund Commissioner in Nagaland. Singh emphasised on the compulsory registration for organisations with 20 or more employees, earning a monthly salary of INR 15,000 or less.

Organisations with less than 20 employees can also voluntarily register under EPFO, he said. The contributory rate under EPFO stands at 12% for both employees and employers.

He further informed on three different schemes under EPFO: Employees Provident Fund, Employees’ Pension Scheme and Employee Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme.