ESI or WC Which Is Applicable to My Organisation?

Written by : TATA AIG Team
·
Published on : 2026/10/15
·
5 min read

Do you want to protect your employees and need clarification about which policy is right for your organisation and the employees working here? Then you must know about the two most important insurances, ESI policy and WC policy, which are known to be the best protection plans for employees.

However, you need to know which one of the policies is right for your organisation. Here, in this article, you will get the necessary information that will help you make the right choice. But before that, let us understand what ESI and WC are.

Share this article

share icon

Get Workmen Compensation Cover from ₹590 Today

calculator iconPremium calculator(Requires manual entry. Mobile Number not required)arrow icon

List of Content

  • bullet
    What is Employee State Insurance?
  • bullet
    What is Workmen Compensation Policy?
  • bullet
    Applicability and Difference Between ESI and WC Policy
  • bullet
    Summing Up

What is Employee State Insurance?

The government of India offers the scheme under the Employer’s State Insurance Act of 1948. Its motive is to provide financial protection to employees against the inability to work due to maternity, injury or death while performing their employment duties. It provides financial stability to the employees and their family members during hard times.

What is Workmen Compensation Policy?

The Workmen Compensation Policy is a compensation that is mandatory for specific classes of employers to pay to their employees in case of accident or demise during their employment.

The policy aims to provide financial support to the employees who sustained injuries while performing their duties. Moreover, it provides financial support to their family while the employee is recovering from the injuries or after their demise.

Applicability and Difference Between ESI and WC Policy

Number of Employees: The ESI policy and workmen compensation insurance policy have different conditions of applicability. The very first is the number of employees in the organisation.

The ESI policy applies to organisations with 20 or more employees who earn up to ₹21,000 per month. The WC policy applicability is not defined by the number of employees or the type of organisation; it applies to all types of organisations.

Primary Objective: The primary objective of ESI policy is to provide the employees and their dependents with both financial and medical care. It is a comprehensive policy that covers the necessary aspects of cash and healthcare for the affected employee.

On the other hand, the WC policy only compensates employees for injuries or losses they sustained while performing their employment duties. It provides financial assistance to employees and their families for a course of time.

Benefits: The benefits under ESI and WC policies also differ. ESI includes medical benefits like medical consultations, hospitalisation, maternity services, and medication. Moreover, it also provides financial assistance to the employees during their temporary disability and period of illness.

The benefits of the WC policy include compensation for medical expenses, temporary or permanent disability and death benefits to the employee and their dependant for the work-related injuries or fatality.

Summing Up

Choosing between workmen compensation cover and Employee State Insurance is a decision that companies need to make after much consideration. They then choose the right policy for their organisation and ensure that they comply with all the necessary rules of whichever policy they decide to choose.

Like with Tata AIG workmen compensation cover, an organisation’s employees can get coverage against permanent total disablement, temporary disablement, permanent partial disablement and death.

Tata AIG offers a range of small business insurance plans that can be customised per the business’s requirements.

Get Workmen Compensation Cover from ₹590 Today

calculator iconPremium calculator(Requires manual entry. Mobile Number not required)arrow icon

Frequently Asked Questions

In which cases the ESI applicability does not exist?

iconDown

Every employee who earns more than ₹21,000 per month in an organisation is exempted from the contribution towards the ESI.

Can Mediclaim replace ESIC?

iconDown

No, mediclaim cannot replace ESIC, as ESIC is a mandatory policy for providing coverage to low-wage employees in the organised sector against health-related problems. At the same time, mediclaim provides much broader coverage to employees who are not covered under the ESI policy.

Share this article

share icon

Latest from our blogs

blog icon
5 min read

Workers' Comp vs ESI Explained Explained

Compare workers' compensation and Employee State Insurance to know which applies to your staff before you buy.

Read MoreRead More Arrow
blog icon
5 min read

Future of WC With Automation & AI Explained

Explore how automation and AI are reshaping workmen compensation insurance in the future before you decide.

Read MoreRead More Arrow
blog icon
5 min read

Value-Added Services in WC Cover Explained

Explore the value-added services available under a workmen's compensation insurance plan before you decide.

Read MoreRead More Arrow

Tata AIG Also Offers Insurance for the below products

Travel Insurance

Two Wheeler Insurance

Health Insurance

Car Insurance

"Disclaimer: The content of this article is for general informational purposes only and is subject to change. It is based on information available at the time of writing.

Any insurance-related information given above cannot be interpreted as policy coverage. It should not be considered insurance, legal, regulatory, or other professional advice, or a substitute for the terms and conditions of your workmen compensation insurance policy.

Workmen compensation insurance coverage, benefits, exclusions, limits, eligibility criteria, and other applicable conditions are subject to the terms of the respective policy document. Please refer to the applicable policy document for complete details. Readers are advised to verify the latest information with the relevant authorities or official sources before making any decisions.

Any reference to workmen compensation insurance or TATA AIG is for general awareness only and does not constitute an offer, recommendation, or advice to purchase a workmen compensation insurance policy from TATA AIG. TATA AIG does not guarantee coverage for any specific claim, compensation, loss, liability, or situation based solely on the information provided in this article."

scrollToTop
Health Insurance
Motor Insurance
Travel Insurance
SME Insurance
Other Insurance
Calculators
iconDown