The Employees State Insurance Corporation has further extended the deadline for filing insurance contribution by a month, following the extension of lockdown till May 3. The move is expected to benefit 3.49 crore insured persons under the scheme besides 12,11,174 employers.

"Considering the hardship being faced by employers, the period for filing ESI contribution for the month of February has been further extended from earlier extended period of April 15 to May 15,"ESIC said in a statement on Tuesday.

"No penalty or interest or damage will be levied on establishments during the extended period," it added

According to ESIC, many establishments are temporarily closed and workers are unable to work die to the nationwide lockdown imposed to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The earlier extended deadline for March remain unchanged at May 15.