The correct answer is the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

• Employee State Insurance Corporation is an autonomous organization that comes under the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

Important Features of the Employee State Insurance act of 1948

• It was the first major legislation on social security for workers in independent India.
• The Act gives effect to the provisions of the Directive Principle as provided in Articles 39 and 41 of the Indian Constitution.
• It makes certain social security provisions to counterbalance or negate any distress in such a situation to the person.
• Under section 2(12) of the Act, it is applicable to all factories and establishments in an area employing 10 or more employees.
• The act includes Medical care facilities for an insured person as well as dependent members of his/her family.
• It also includes medical cover for some specific illnesses with cash benefits.
• It covers 70% of the employees’ wages until 91 days but to avail this benefit, the workers require constituting at least 78 days work for six months.
• Various benefits provided under the act

1. Medical benefit.
2. Sickness benefit.
3. Maternity benefit.
4. Disablement benefit.
5. Dependents benefit.
6. Funeral expenses.
7. Rehabilitation allowances.

• There is a special benefit provided for women employed by the act for maternity leave or any pregnancy-related issues. The period for maternity leave is 26 weeks with a One-month extension.
• In case of death or disablement, there is a provision of monthly payment to the employee or to his dependent.
• The scheme is also applicable for an unemployed person who will get 50% of his last salary, provided that he discloses information about his/her last employer.
• The act established Employee State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), an autonomous corporation under the Ministry of Labour and Employment. It has been given the status of a legal entity.
• For all employees earning 21,000 or less per month, the employer contributes 3.25% and the employee contributes 0.75%, total share 4%. This fund is managed by the ESIC according to the rules of the act.
• Section 75 of the act provides for Employee Insurance Court to adjudicate dispute or claims related to Employee State Insurance Act 1948.
• The latest amendment to the act made two changes One, it raised the monthly wage limit to 21000 from the previous 15000 with effect from 1 January 2017, and second, it lowered the rate of contribution from 6.5% to 4% effective from 1 July 2019.