What do you get from ESI?

What ESI is

ESI is a government insurance scheme for staff. It covers you if your ESI wages are ₹21,000 a month or less (₹25,000 for a person with a disability). ESI wages are not your full pay. House rent allowance (HRA), overtime, bonus, commission and travel allowance are left out. But your ESI wages must be at least half your total pay. If they come to less, the difference is added to your ESI wages.

You pay 0.75% of your ESI wages. Your employer pays 3.25%. Example: ESI wages of ₹18,000 a month. You pay ₹135. Your employer pays ₹585. Check your own amount with our free ESI contribution calculator.

What you get

• Medical care when you are ill.
• Cash help when you can't work because of illness.
• Maternity help for women having a baby.
• Help if you are hurt at work: medical care and cash. ESI can also help your family if you die because of a work injury.

ESIC sets the rules for each benefit. Ask your employer for the details.

Why you can't say no

ESI is a must when your employer's business has 10 or more staff (some risky kinds of work too) and your ESI wages are ₹21,000 a month or less (₹25,000 for a person with a disability). You can't say no, and your employer can't leave you out. Staff on very low daily pay don't pay their share, but the employer still pays theirs.

Your pay goes above ₹21,000? Don't stop ESI on your own. Your employer should check when it can stop.

How to use ESI

Each covered employee has an IP number (your ESI number). Your employer registers you with ESI when you join. Ask for your IP number.