ESIC Circular on SPREE Initiative: Compliance Under Social Security Code

On 11-12-2025, the Employee’s State Insurance Corporation (‘ESIC’) issued a circular regarding the implementation of the Code on Social Security, 2020. The circular advised organizations to prioritise compliance and to ensure ESIC’s employees to receive benefits under Code on Social Security, 2020.

Key Takeaways of ESIC Implementation Circular on 11-12-2025:

1. The Code on Social Security, 2020 (‘Social Security Code’) is a comprehensive Labour Code/Labour Law that consolidates all major social security schemes into one, ensuring comprehensive medical and financial security benefits for employees across all establishments.¹

2. The provisions of the Code commenced on 21-11-2025 and this ESIC Implementation Circular was issued by ESIC ensuring the implementation² of this Code.

3. The Circular emphasized that all establishments meeting the prescribed criteria under the Code must register themselves with ESIC without delay.

4. All establishments include educational and medical institutions, ensuring that employees in these sectors also benefit from social security

5. The ESIC Implementation Circular mandated as under:

   • Immediate registration of establishments under the ESIC framework.

   • Enrolment of all eligible employees as per the Code’s criteria.

   • Adherence to the new definition of wages³, which includes Basic Pay + Dearness Allowance + Retaining Allowances (if any).

6. Employers were urged to act promptly to avoid non-compliance and to ensure their workforce receives the benefits guaranteed under the Code.

7. Online registration could be completed through:

   • Shram Suvidha Portal⁴ or,

   • ESIC Employer Portal⁵.

8. The deadline for compliance under the SPREE⁶ initiative by ESIC was earlier decided on 31-12-2025.

ESIC Circular on 18-12-2025:

But soon after, ESIC issued a circular clarifying the purpose of SPREE Initiative. ESIC also reiterated that compliance of Social Security Code can only be implemented once Rules and Regulation of it are notified by the Central Government. The earlier communication dated 11-12-2025 was intended only to create awareness among employers during SPREE.

Read more about the Four Labour Laws.

Know more about Enforcement dates of the Codes.