Coverage of Badli Workers Under ESI and EPF Acts
1. Sir, I feel that in the ESI Act of 1948 as well as in the EPF & MPs Act of 1952, no separate provisions exist in respect of so-called badli workers. The above Acts do not discriminate between employees/workers based on their method of recruitment or the permanence of their employment. Therefore, all such so-called badli workers are covered under the provisions of the above Acts. There is no condition of minimum qualifying service for coverage under the above Acts at present.
2. The provisions of the above Acts are statutory in nature and allow no option to the employers.