ESIC Launches SPREE-2025 & Amnesty Scheme

ESIC Launches SPREE-2025 and Amnesty Scheme to Boost Social Security Coverage and Ease Compliance

In a major reform move in 2025, the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) launched two significant initiatives — SPREE-2025 and the Amnesty Scheme-2025 — aimed at expanding social security net coverage and simplifying compliance for industries across India. These schemes are designed to promote voluntary registration of unregistered employers and employees, and to provide relief from ongoing legal disputes under the Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) Act.

SPREE-2025: Promoting Voluntary Registration until December 2025

The Scheme for Promoting Registration of Employers and Employees (SPREE-2025) is set to run until 31 December 2025. The scheme offers a one-time opportunity for industries and workers who are not currently registered with ESIC to formally enrol through the ESI Portal, Shram Suvidha Portal, or the Company Affairs Portal.

A key benefit under SPREE-2025 is that there is no demand for old dues at the time of registration, encouraging industries to comply without the fear of retrospective penalties. Employers and employees registering under the scheme will be considered covered from the date of registration or a date declared by the employer. Importantly, newly registered employees will start receiving health and social security benefits immediately from their registration date.

The core philosophy of SPREE-2025 is fostering voluntary compliance over punitive action. The aim is to reduce litigation, build trust between employers and employees, and simplify the registration process thereby easing compliance for businesses and improving worker welfare.

Amnesty Scheme-2025: One-Time Dispute Resolution Mechanism

Complementing SPREE-2025, the Amnesty Scheme-2025 is a one-time dispute resolution initiative effective from 1 October 2025 through 30 September 2026. It focuses on settling pending disputes related to damages, interest, and coverage under the ESI Act, providing employers an opportunity to clear longstanding issues and improve compliance status.

Under this scheme:

• Regional Directors are empowered to withdraw cases where contributions and interest have been paid.
• Cases filed against insured persons over five years ago without prior notices can also be withdrawn.
• For the first time, dispute cases involving damages and interest related to coverage are included, aiming to clear backlog and reduce legal burdens on industries.

This scheme ensures timely and uninterrupted social security benefits to workers by minimizing disputes and court cases.

Industry and Employee Benefits

Representatives from industry bodies have welcomed both initiatives, noting that they simplify compliance and reduce legal risks for enterprises of all sizes. Employees will benefit from easier access to social security benefits and healthcare services under ESIC’s comprehensive scheme.

Together, SPREE-2025 and the Amnesty Scheme-2025 significantly strengthen India’s social security framework by encouraging formalization within the workforce and promoting cooperation between employers and employees.

Government’s Vision for Labour Welfare

These schemes underscore the Government of India’s commitment to expanding social security coverage, easing the process of doing business, and formalizing the informal workforce. They align with broader labour reforms aimed at improving employee welfare, reducing litigation, and fostering an enabling environment for compliance.