The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has launched an ambitious initiative titled Scheme to Promote Registration of Employers and Employees (SPREE), which will be in effect from 1st July to 31st December 2025. The scheme aims to increase registration under the ESI Act by encouraging employers of unregistered establishments to come forward without fear of penalties or inspections.
According to a notification from ESIC, this move is part of a broader strategy to extend social security benefits to a larger segment of the workforce. The PR Branch has already circulated detailed implementation guidelines dated 01.07.2025.
🔑 Key Highlights of SPREE 2025:
✅ No Inspection Policy
Units registered during SPREE will not be inspected for one year. If mistakenly marked for inspection, SSOs must mark such cases as “No inspection required”.
✅ Awareness & Outreach Drive
Regional and Sub-Regional Offices will lead campaigns, especially in industrial clusters. ESIC will set up Help Desks, host seminars, and distribute promotional content (flyers, banners, WhatsApp messages) soon downloadable from www.esic.gov.in.
✅ Facilitation Support
All ESIC offices are instructed to guide employers through the online registration process and assist in case of technical issues.
✅ Data-Driven Targeting
Field offices are to approach MSME units and use datasets from EPFO, State Labour Departments, and others to reach out to uncovered yet coverable employers.
✅ No Surveys Without HQ Approval
No surveys during SPREE unless specifically directed by ESIC Headquarters or CAIU.
✅ Inter-Departmental Collaboration
Regional Offices are to liaise with state departments (Labour, Health, Education, etc.) to promote SPREE widely.
📅 Reporting Requirement:
Field offices must submit progress reports fortnightly in the prescribed format to the Headquarters by the 16th of each month and the 1st of the following month.