ESIC’s helping handto kin of victims

Family of employees who succumbed toCOVID-19 to be eligible for pension

The Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has come out with ‘ESIC COVID-19 relief scheme’ to provide relief to the families of employees, covered under ESIC, who died of COVID-19. As per the scheme, the family members of the employee will be eligible for family pension equivalent up to 90% of the average wage of the deceased employee, subject to a minimum of ₹1,800 per month. The family pension which is normally payable only in case of death due to employment injury has now been relaxed to include death due to COVID-19. The scheme shall be effective for a period of two years with effect from March 24, 2020. The employees who have been registered under the ESI scheme at least three months prior to the date of diagnosis of the COVID-19 and contribution in respect of whom have been paid or payable for at least 70 days during the period of maximum one year immediately preceding diagnosis of the COVID-19 disease are eligible.