Result achieved
A social protection scheme to extend coverage, enhance comprehensiveness and/or increase adequacy of benefits has been adopted or reformed (Step 2)
Number of countries that have adopted or reformed social protection schemes to extend coverage, enhance comprehensiveness and/or increase adequacy of benefits (Step 2)
30.09.2020
IND126
Public
2020-21 | 8.2.1
(e) social inclusion, including of persons in the informal economy
(l) coherence with social, economic and employment policies
(q) full respect for collective bargaining and freedom of association for all workers
(r) tripartite participation with representative organizations of employers and workers, as well as consultation with other relevant and representative organizations of persons concerned
Outcome summary
The Social Security Code confirmed the Employee State Insurance Corporation's mandate to provide social protection to formal and informal workers
Outcome achieved
The MOLE, Government of India has subsumed the Employee State Insurance Act 1948 under the Social Security Code, 2020 (approved by the Parliament in September 2020) – retaining the ESIC’s pre-eminent role of providing social protection to formal sector workers while expanding its mandate to cover new categories of informal workers. The period of formulation of the Code and its implementation coincides with the ILO’s ongoing engagement with the ESIC. During 2020 ILO has provided ESIC with- technical analysis of ESIC’s performance and recommendations for strengthening of its social health protection functions; recommendations for strengthening ESIC’s health financing systems, service delivery mechanisms, governance and beneficiary engagement. Several of the recommendations find reflection in the measures adopted by ESIC in 2020-21, including in financial performance and adequacy of services through strategic purchasing; beneficiary engagement through stronger communication strategy; and expansion of focus on informal workers in new sectors of gig and platform economy, plantations and municipal corporations, while recently raising the income ceiling to cover larger number of workers.
These incremental measures potentially contribute to an evolving overall reform strategy for the ESIC in the short and medium term. ILO continues its collaboration with ESIC to support such measures for a sustainable strengthening of the ESI Scheme.
ILO's contribution to the outcome
ILO collaborated with ESIC to carry out in-depth diagnostics of the ESI Scheme's performance through a team of national and international high-level experts and research agencies. ILO organized several consultations with constituents, ESIC and MOLE to gather their inputs on the results and incorporate them in the phased action plan. ILO currently holds a most exhaustive data and analysis of India's largest contributory social protection scheme (ESIS), which is being used to advocate for evidence-based reforms in ESIC.
Gender equality & non-discrimination
Adoption of new Social Security Code (2020) provides significant impacts on the aspects of gender equality and non-discrimination. Gig and platform workers in India are one of the most discriminated occupational groups in terms of access to social protection and the new Code firmly commits the extension of social protection to these groups. Concerning gender equality, under the provisions of the Code, the Central government may frame social security schemes for gig and platform workers on matters relating to various social security schemes including maternity benefits.
Partnerships
MOLE, State Labour Department/s, Employers and Workers Organizations; ESIC; Ministry of Health, Gujarat State AIDS Control Society;
SDG
Goals
- End poverty in all its forms everywhere
- Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
- Reduce inequality within and among countries
Targets
- 1.3 Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable
- 3.8 Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all
- 10.4 Adopt policies, especially fiscal, wage and social protection policies, and progressively achieve greater equality