Panel to submit white paper on ESI hospitals in six months

A high-power committee is expected to submit a white paper on functioning of ESI hospitals within six months, Union Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya said today.
The panel, which met here for the first time after formation, will visit across the country to study all ESI hospitals and dispensaries with regard to patent monitoring and patent education, the minister said.
"A white paper will be prepared by the committee on the ESI hospitals and will be submitted to the ministry within six months. The committee has also decided to give accreditation to all ESI hospitals through National Accreditation Board depending up on the performance and other parameters," Dattatreya told reporters.

There are 151 ESI hospitals and 1458 ESI dispensaries in the country.
Dattatreya said the ministry has proposals to convert one third of the 1458 ESI dispensaries into six and 10-bed hospitals.
Replying to a query, he said the government has issued executive orders to ensure contract workers get a minimum wage of Rs 10,000 per month adding the issue is currently under the examination of the Law ministry.

"Executive Orders have been issued and the law ministry is examining them. Soon we will issue notification on that," he said.
The minister had earlier said the government has decided to make changes to rule 25 of the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Central Rules and every contract worker will be entitled to get Rs 10,000 per month.

He said the Employee Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) invested about Rs 5800 crore in the two index-linked ETFs (Exchange Traded Fund) last year and the quantum of investment to be made for the current year will be decided by the Board of Trustees soon.