Government mulling bringing unorganised sector workers under EPFO and ESIC

Exam-focused facts from the 31 March 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

The government is deliberating bringing unorganised, gig and platform workers under the ambit of Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) and Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC).
Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Shobha Karandlaje, stated this in Lok Sabha during Question Hour on 30 March 2026.
The Ministry is examining domestic and international models to design a suitable social security scheme for these workers.
The proposed model involves worker’s voluntary contribution plus government subsidy due to funding constraints.
The ESIC expansion aims to cover at least 32 crore unorganised, gig and platform workers as per ongoing deliberations.