Hi Mrudula,
PF is a both-side contribution meaning that
Employer contributes 12% of basic + da.
This is wholly employer's contribution and is to be paid out of companies expenses.
Above the 12% contribution which goes to PF and Pension Account (8.33% to Pension fund and 3.67% to PF fund) the employer is to pay admin charges on PF account and also pay a percent on insurance policy.
Employee contribution -
Employer is deduct employee's contribution from his/her salary.
Employee is to contribute min 12% of basic + da and he can voluntarily increase his/her share up to a maximum of 20%
Whole of his contribution goes to PF fund.
Also note that a company is covered under PF act once it employs more than 20 employees.
Even if the employment at a later stage drops below 20, the firm is said to be still covered under PF Act, once it is covered.
Similarly, an employee can be covered under PF Act only if his/her basic + da is less than 6500.
However, if he gets an increment, he still is covered under the pf act and contribution is to be made on 6500.
Once an employee is covered under PF Act, he continues to be covered even if he changes his employment (unless the new employment is not covered under PF Act)
For more clarifications, you can visit the following discussions -
https://www.citehr.com/232866-provid...pf-number.html
https://www.citehr.com/455974-no-emp...f-company.html