ESIC relaunches SPREE Scheme

The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), at its 196th meeting in Shimla on June 27, approved the re-launch of the SPREE (Scheme to Promote Registration of Employers/Employees) program.

• This initiative will run from July 1 to December 31, 2025, offering a one-time opportunity for previously unregistered employers and unlisted workers to enroll under the ESI Act and gain access to medical benefits.

Key Features of the Relaunched SPREE Scheme:

• Employer Registration: Employers who register during this period will be considered covered from their date of registration or a date they declare.
• Employee Coverage: Newly registered employees will be covered from their respective dates of registration.
• Expanded Scope: For the first time, SPREE will include disputes as well as cases involving damages and interest related to ESI coverage.
• Empowerment of Regional Directors:
  • Regional Directors now have the authority to withdraw cases where contributions and interest have already been paid.
  • They are also empowered to withdraw cases filed against insured persons more than five years ago if no notices were issued in those cases.

(Source: BL)