The employee-count thresholds that trigger statutory registration.

By Kanoons Editorial Team · 4 min read · Last verified 2026-07-26

EPF registration becomes mandatory once an establishment employs 20 or more people. ESI registration is mandatory for establishments with 10 or more employees (20 in some states) where any employee earns up to the wage ceiling of ₹21,000/month.

Once registered, both schemes require monthly contributions and returns even in months with no eligible payroll activity.