How is ESIC Expanding Digital Registrations Under SPREE 2025?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Digital registration of units and employees through multiple portals.
- Valid registration from the date declared by employers.
- No inspections for pre-registration records.
- Encouragement of voluntary compliance.
- Increased access to ESI benefits for unregistered workers.
New Delhi, July 2 (NationPress) Employers now have the opportunity to digitally register their units and employees via the ESIC portal, Shram Suvidha, and MCA portal with the introduction of SPREE 2025 (Scheme to Promote Registration of Employers/Employees). This initiative aims to broaden ESI coverage nationwide, as stated in an official release issued on Wednesday.
The registration will be recognized from the date specified by the employer, but no contributions or benefits will be applicable for periods preceding the registration, the statement clarified.
It was emphasized that there will be no inspections or requests for historical records concerning the pre-registration period.
Initially launched in 2016, the scheme successfully enabled the registration of over 88,000 employers and 1.02 crore employees. The updated SPREE will be available from July 1 to December 31, 2025, providing a unique opportunity for unregistered employers and overlooked workers—including temporary and contractual staff—to enroll under the ESI Act without the threat of inspections or past dues, according to the statement.
This scheme fosters voluntary compliance by alleviating the apprehension of retrospective penalties and streamlining the registration process. Before SPREE, failing to register within designated timeframes could lead to legal repercussions and backdated dues. SPREE 2025 seeks to dismantle these barriers, aiming to incorporate excluded establishments and workers into the ESI framework and ensure broader social protection.
The launch of SPREE 2025 represents a significant advancement by the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation towards a more inclusive and accessible social security system. By simplifying the registration process and offering immunity from past liabilities, the scheme not only motivates employers to regularize their workforce but also guarantees that more workers, particularly those in contractual roles, gain access to vital health and social benefits under the ESI Act.
The ESIC remains dedicated to enhancing its outreach and achieving its mission of universal social protection, aligning with the vision of a welfare-oriented labor ecosystem in India, the statement further added.