Employees Provident Fund (EPF) Act
The central government has notified 187 types of establishments for whom the Employees Provident Fund Act is applicable. Various establishments notified by the government include Electronic Media Company, Computer and Software Industry, Cleaning and Sweeper, all schools, colleges, building and construction, etc.
Any business that is registered under this act at any time will be liable to do compliance under this act even if the employee count falls below 20 people. A business that does not meet the criteria above can choose to voluntarily register with the EPFO if both employers and employees are willing to do so.
Applicability to Employees
Every employee whose salary (Basic + DA) is less than INR 15,000/- is liable to register under the PF Act. However, in the future, the wages might include HRA along with basic pay and DA, and the government might raise the limit.
Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Act, 1948
The ESI scheme applies to all factories and other establishments as defined in the act with ten or more people employed in such an establishment.
The central government has notified the following organizations who shall also comply with the ESIC Act: Shops, Hotels and Restaurants, Cinemas including preview theatres, Road-motor transport undertakings, Newspaper establishments, Establishments engaged in Insurance Business, Non-Banking Financial Companies, Port Trust, Airport Authorities, Warehousing Private, Medical and Educational institutions.
The threshold limit for a minimum number of employees is 20 in the case of Maharashtra and Chandigarh.
Applicability to Employees
Any employee whose gross salary is up to Rs. 21,000 per month can avail this with the help of his employer, and the same is mandatory to register under the ESIC scheme.
