Is the PF Act Applicable to Sizing & Warping Units in Textile Manufacturing? Seeking Clarity

Dear Seniors,

This is Vinayak, working as an HR in a textile unit. I need your help with a question related to PF applicability to Sizing & Warping units (Textile Manufacturing).

Applicability of the Employee's Provident Funds & Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952

The act is applicable:

- To every factory engaged in any industry specified in Schedule - I to the act and employing 20 or more persons;
- To every other establishment employing 20 or more persons specified by the central government in this behalf.

Schedule - I describes "Textile" (made wholly or in part of cotton, wool, jute, or silk, whether natural or artificial).

The expression "textile" includes the products of carding, spinning, weaving, finishing, dyeing yarn and fabrics, printing, knitting, and embroidering.

My actual question is regarding Schedule - I: the act describes the expression of "textile" as above, but it does not include Sizing & Warping.

The question arises: Is the PF act applicable to Sizing & Warping, which are almost a part of textile manufacturing? I am confused about this topic. Kindly clear my doubt.

Awaiting your reply.

Regards,
Vinayak

The processes of Sizing and Warping are indeed part of textile manufacturing. Additionally, carding, spinning, weaving, finishing, dyeing yarn and fabrics, printing, knitting, embroidering, and other processes are involved in textiles.

Applicability of the PF Act to Textiles

The PF Act is applicable to textiles, whether they consist wholly or in part of cotton, wool, jute, silk, or any natural or artificial materials. This Act includes the activities of Sizing and Warping, which are departments in textiles. These departments cannot be excluded from the applicability of the PF Act. I believe there should be no doubt about this.

Understanding the Schedule

I have carefully reviewed serial (d) in the schedule at the end. My understanding is that any product resulting from carding, spinning, weaving, finishing, dyeing yarn and fabrics, printing, knitting, embroidering, etc., is also considered textile. The terms "product of" and "etc." are crucial in this context.

Regards.

I had a doubt on the said subject, but now there is no doubt regarding the applicability of the PF Act to sizing and warping units. Thanks a lot for your valuable time and guidance.

Regards.