Confused About ESIC Registration and Payment? Need Help with Employee Coverage Rules

Hi friends, I have some confusion regarding ESIC registration and payment regularization. Please suggest me.

Criteria for ESIC Registration and Coverage

What is the basic criteria for registration and coverage of ESIC? In the first month, if my company's employee strength reaches 12 and out of which only 8 members' gross salary is less than ₹15,000, do we have to pay the first month's ESIC contribution to regularize the ESIC registration?

ESIC Applicability for Manufacturing and Other Establishments

From 30th June 2010, for any manufacturing establishment, ESIC is applicable if it has 10 employees (headcount - no salary slab, etc.). However, except in the state of Punjab where the above clause is applicable even for other establishments, for other establishments, ESIC will be applicable from the date the establishment has 20 or more employees with a gross salary of less than ₹15,000 per month.

Regards,
Bhavik H Chheda

Chheda Consultancy Services: Consultants for Payroll Processing, Labour Laws, Provident Fund, ESIC, Professional Tax, MLWF, Shop Licence, etc. in Mumbai, Maharashtra