Consider the following:

1. Hotels and restaurants
2. Motor transport undertakings
3. Newspaper establishments
4. Private medical institutions

The employees of which of the above can have the `Social Security’ coverage under Employees’ State Insurance Scheme?

[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2012 Prelims]

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only

(b) 4 only

(c) 1, 3 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer: (d)        

Explanation:

Employees State Insurance Scheme-

• The Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948 is social security legislation that provides for medical care and cash benefit in the contingencies of sickness, maternity, disablement, and death due to employment injury to workers.
• Initially, the Factories Act applies to non-seasonal factories that employ 10 or more individuals. The Act’s coverage is gradually expanded in stages, extending its provisions to different geographical areas.
• The Act includes a provision that grants authority to the “appropriate government” to broaden its application to various types of establishments, such as industrial, commercial, agricultural, or others.
• Utilizing this provision, most state governments have extended the Act’s provisions to additional types of establishments, including shops, hotels, restaurants, cinemas (including preview theatres), road-motor transport undertakings, and newspaper establishments. This extension applies to establishments that employ 20 or more eligible employees.
• Consequently, options 1, 2, 3, and 4 are all correct, as the Act has been extended to cover these new classes of establishments by several state governments.