Understanding ESIC: Are Construction Workers Covered Under This Scheme?

Whether ESIC is applicable to construction workers? I have corrected the capitalization of "Construction" to "construction" as it is not a proper noun in this context. Additionally, I have removed the unnecessary line breaks to ensure proper paragraph formatting.

Hi, Yes, the construction workers are very much eligible for ESI. When employed by a construction company, the employer will usually directly provide PF/ESI benefits to the employees. However, laborers (like those who perform the role of shuttering/mason) working for contractors will move from one construction project to another project where ESI benefits may be denied, as the contractor pays daily/weekly salaries. It is the responsibility of the contractors to ensure that workers under them are covered by ESI. In cases where contractors fail to provide coverage, the principal employer (construction companies) hiring the contractor's services must ensure that workers are covered under ESI.

Extension of ESI scheme to construction workers

The ESIC circular dated 14/6/1999, which exempts site workers, will prevail. The subsequent circular dated 31/7/2015, which had withdrawn the earlier circular, will continue under stay. In short, compliance in respect of the site workers of construction agencies need not be done for the present.

(Reference: F.No.T-11/13/52/04/2022 Rev.II dated 03/04/23 from ESIC, Panchdeep Bhawan, New Delhi)