Understanding WC Policy: Should It Be Included in Employee CTC Breakdown?

Dear Seniors, I am a bit confused about whether the WC policy taken by the employer is a part of the CTC of the employee or not. If not, are there any legal complications if we show it in the CTC breakup of the employee?

Dear Consultant Brother, if you understand the concept and meaning of CTC, you will never be confused. CTC stands for Cost to Company and is not a payment to the employee. For example, if you are an employer or a company, and you hire my services, you will be spending on my employment in terms of salary, benefits, perks, etc. Additionally, you will be contributing to PF, Medical Insurance, other insurance, gratuity premiums, etc., for me and other employees. All these expenses incurred by you on me and others are considered as your cost, i.e., CTC.

Employer Discretion in CTC Calculation

It is at the discretion of the employer to decide which expenses are included in the CTC calculation and which are not. My advice to employers is not to include expenses such as premiums paid for gratuity, medical insurance, and other types of insurance in the CTC calculation. Some employers even consider the cost of leave as part of CTC, a practice I personally do not favor. However, I will not say that they are wrong.

Regards,

Clarification on WC and Health Insurance Policy

Is it the WC or Health Insurance policy? I think you mean Health Insurance. It is part of the CTC.

Regards,
Pon

In further reference to my respected senior member Sh. Keshav Korgaonkar, I would like to add that the premium paid by the employer on the WC policy is not supposed to be included while fixing the CTC. However, in the company where the ESI scheme is applicable, the contribution is taken as part of the salary for the purpose of calculating CTC since the scheme covers the employment injuries caused to the workers. As a precautionary measure, the employer prefers to have a WC Policy where the ESI scheme is not in existence.

Regards,
BS Kalsi
Member since Aug 2011

Workers' Compensation (WC) Policy and Cost to Company (CTC)

Workers' Compensation (WC) Policy should never be considered a part of the Cost to Company (CTC). It is a statutory obligation for employers to provide a WC Policy to their employees, especially in cases where the Employees' State Insurance (ESI) Scheme is not applicable in their area.

Regards

As mentioned by Mr. Yagniah, where there is no ESIC coverage, the company must cover its employees/workmen under the WC (Workmen Compensation) policy. It is a comprehensive Social Security Scheme designed to protect employees in the organized sector against the hazards of sickness, maternity, disablement, and death due to employment injury, and to provide medical care to the insured employees and their families.

Employees/workmen will be given an alternative option as the WC policy since they don't receive ESIC benefits. If your company is considering ESIC contribution as part of employees' CTC, then you will have to consider WC as a part of CTC as well.

Dear Seniors/Experts, please correct me if I'm wrong.

Thanks and Regards,
Jagadeesh R
Sr. Executive - HR

Understanding ESI and EC Act Liabilities

ESI contribution is a recurring liability of the employer every month, irrespective of the occurrence of sickness, maternity, disablement, or death to employees covered under the ESI Act. However, the EC Act (HR professionals, please do not refer to it as the WC Act) applies only when an accident occurs to an employee not covered under the ESI scheme and falls under the definition of an employee under the EC Act. It does not apply to all employed persons.

Also, please understand that in India, there is no law that makes it obligatory for employers to take out an insurance policy under the EC Act or POG Act.

Regards,
[Phone Number Removed For Privacy Reasons]

While endorsing your above response, I would like to draw your kind attention to the practice where some employers include the cost incurred by them towards the premium for the EC policy in the CTC. Whether this is right or wrong is a different subject. Therefore, the views I am expressing on this subject are as follows:

Employer Discretion on CTC Inclusions

"It is up to the employer to decide which expenses are to be included in the CTC and which are not. My advice to employers is not to include expenses towards the premium paid for gratuity, medical insurance, and other types of insurance in the CTC. Some employers even include the costing of leave as part of the CTC, which I do not support. HOWEVER, I WILL NOT SAY THAT THEY ARE WRONG."

Regards

Understanding the Employees Compensation Act (WC Policy)

The Employees Compensation Act (WC Policy) is used as an alternative provision to ESIC (where ESIC coverage is not available). However, both provisions are meant for the welfare of employees. Under statutory provisions, employers are bound to provide such social security to every employee. Hence, it is a cost to the company. HR personnel must ensure that this benefit/privilege is granted to employees because it is a statutory requirement as well as in the interest of employees' welfare.

Thanks,
Bijay

Mr. Karogoankar has very vividly and lucidly explained to you the concept of CTC. Coming to the Workmen's Compensation, if your industry is covered by the ESI, the WC will not be applicable to your industry. Workmen's compensation only arises in case of any accident during the course of work, and if the concerned employee is injured and loses their earning capacity, the Workmen Compensation Act will apply, and the compensation shall be paid as per the loss of earnings as tabulated under the WC Act. If the industry is covered under the ESI Act, the industry is only required to send the Accident report in Form No.12 to the local office, and the local dispensary and ESI authority will take care of all the formalities in arriving at the compensation and the pension payable to the injured employee based on the quantum of injury and loss of earning capacity.

Hope this clarifies your doubt.

Regards,
G.K. Manjunath
Sr. Manager-HR

A small but very significant correction with due regards to you. If an employee is covered by the ESI, worker's compensation will not be applicable to the employee.

Mr. Koragaonkar, please read my first sentence. It is very clearly mentioned that if the industry is covered, workers' compensation will not be applicable.

Regards,
G.K. Manjunath
Sr. Manager - HR

With due respect to you, Sir, I once again submit that when an industry (i.e., factory or establishment) is covered under ESI, it is not necessary that all the employees engaged in such a factory or establishment are covered under ESIS. The WC (EC) Act is applicable to those employed persons who are not covered under ESIS. If I am wrong, then I will have to apologize to all those to whom I have given the wrong picture up till now.