SPREE 2025 – Scheme for Promotion of Registration of Employers and Employees

(Launched by ESIC | Period: 1 July – 31 Dec 2025)

Why in News?

• Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has rolled out SPREE 2025 to expand the social security net under the ESI Act, 1948.
• Approved at the 196th Corporation Meeting (Shimla), chaired by Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya (Union Minister for Labour & Employment, Youth Affairs & Sports).

Salient Features of SPREE 2025

🔹 Digital Registration Drive → Employers register units/employees via ESIC portal + Shram Suvidha Portal.

🔹 Prospective Coverage → Registration valid only from date declared by employer (No retrospective liability).

🔹 No Retrospective Penalty → No contributions, inspections, or demands for pre-registration period.

🔹 Special Window → One-time opportunity for unregistered employers and contractual/temporary workers.

🔹 Fear-Free Compliance → Removes legal risk of backdated dues, encouraging voluntary enrolment.

Strategic Significance

1. Social Security Expansion
   • Targets ~90% of India’s workforce in informal/unorganized sector.
   • Aligns with ILO Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (though India hasn’t ratified fully).
2. Labour Market Formalization
   • Complements Code on Social Security, 2020.
   • Reduces duality: organized vs. unorganized labour.
3. Ease of Doing Business
   • Eases employer compliance burden.
   • Prevents harassment through retrospective penalties & inspections.
4. Political Economy Angle
   • Strengthens welfare-centric governance narrative.
   • Links to National Health Mission (NHM) and Ayushman Bharat by expanding health cover indirectly.

Challenges / Criticism

⚠️ Short Duration – 6-month window may exclude slower adopters.

⚠️ Voluntary Nature – Risk of under-registration persists.

⚠️ Awareness Gap – Informal sector employers/workers may remain unaware.

⚠️ Sustainability – Expansion of beneficiaries → stress on ESI hospitals & fund management.

Comparison with Earlier Initiatives

• PMRPY (Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana) → incentivized employer contributions (EPF side).
• Shram Suvidha Portal (2014) → ease of compliance, but limited uptake.
• SPREE 2017 → earlier version by ESIC, but limited coverage; SPREE 2025 has wider scope + stronger digital interface.
  
  
  
  

Updated - 17 JUL 2025 11:24AM  | PIB