Over 20 lakh workers joined ESI scheme in July; nearly half aged under 25

At least 20.36 lakh new employees were added to the Employees' State Insurance (ESI) scheme in July 2025, according to provisional payroll data released by the Ministry of Labour and Employment on Friday. The official figures, published by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), mark a 4.86 per cent rise over June and underline the increasing participation of young workers in the formal sector.

Youth dominate fresh registrations

Of the total enrolments, 9.85 lakh workers i.e., 48.37 per cent were aged 25 years or below. The ministry said this reflects a consistent trend of younger employees entering the social security net. In June, 19.37 lakh workers had joined, with 49.5 per cent in the same age group.

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More women and inclusivity push

A gender-wise breakdown shows 4.33 lakh women joined the scheme in July. The data also records 88 transgender employees among the new enrolments, signalling the corporation’s effort to extend benefits to every section of society.

Establishments expand coverage

Alongside new workers, 31,146 establishments were registered under the scheme in July. With their inclusion, more organisations and employees will now be covered for health and financial support.

What the scheme covers

The Employees' State Insurance scheme is a contributory social security system. It provides medical care to insured persons and their families, and offers financial assistance in cases such as sickness, maternity, disability or death caused by work-related injury. The coverage applies to factories and specified establishments, including shops, hotels and educational institutions, once they cross the mandated employee threshold.