PF And ESI For Interns And Projec Work Students

Hi
We take students for project work / Internship for three to six months duration.
We are not covered under apprecntice act.
we pay them stiphend.
1. Some students work on site (customers sites)
2. Some work in house
Do we need to cover ESI and PF for them.
Thanks
Usharani Manne

If your unit is covered under ESI then ESI has to be covered for the apprentices also, irrespective of place of work. They need not be covered under EPF, so long as they are apprentices. If they are trainees, they have to be covered in EPF also.
M.Venkatraghavan

Dear Usharani ji,
You said, you take students for project work / internship. 
My questions to you:
i . Is this project work / internship part of study / syllabus? 
ii. Are they taken on the basis of their college recommendation?
iii. What they do at costomer sites and what do you mean by work at house?
According to my view, if the project work / internship is not a part of their study and they are not recommended by their college, you are liable to cover them under PF and ESI. You may call them as apprentice. You may call them as trainee or you may call them as interns. You may say that you are not paying them salary and paying them stipend. The very fact is that they are not apprentices under Apprenticeship Act or not Trainees under Standing Order Act.
However you may exclude them from ESI on the ground of outside work under certain circumstances.
You are requested to go thru the below  given link:
https://www.citehr.com/showthread.php?t=447790 <link fixed>

Dear UM
According to my knowledge ,They may cover in WC policy ( un named policy)not in ESI & PF
devendra

Thank you for the response.
1. The students are recommended by college
2. It is part of their curriculum
3. On site means, they go to customer sites and practically learn.
4. In house means they work and learn with out moving out of our premises

Dear Usharani ji,
No PF, no ESI is applicable to them. There is no relationship between you and them of employee and employer. No labour law is applicable to them.

Dear usha ji,
I endorse the views of Mr. Koragaonkar but in my view , much depends upon the nature of activities carried out by your estt. And the employment if given to such students by your estt. After completion of training etc. Better you take up the matter with the concerend authorities also with all the details.
Chandok AK
RPFC ( Retd.)
<link no longer exists - removed>

Dear Legends,
This is Ravi Working as HR-Generalist in IT Company which is Chennai Based Company. Now we are going to change new for our Chennai Branch. Kindly suggest name for the Process at the earliest.
Regards & Thanks,
Ravindharan
Human Resource Department.