ESI Applicable To Service Center? Please Help

Dear All,
Please help: 1. Is ESI is applicable for a Service center franchisee (for mobile phones, branded) proprietorship concern with 15 employees most of whom have salaries in the range of 6000 to 10,000?
2. Apart from ESI what other benefits are they mandatorily entitled to? Mediclaim/ PF? :Please share some light, any gyan is greatly appreciated! thanks a ton!!

1. Sir,Service center franchisee, in my opinion, will be a "shop" and hence is coverable under ESI Act, 1948 and rules/regulations framed thereunder, if the unit has employed 10 or more persons on any day. The range of wages of persons is immaterial for coverage of a unit. Therefore, for coverage of the unit, I think, you may contact ESIC appropriate social security officer, who has jurisdiction in the area in which your nit is located.
2. So far as coverage under EPF is concerned, I think, there must be 20 or more persons employed for wages including employed through contractors, casual etc. etc.

ESI is applicable if you are in a state which had extended the ESI scheme to establishment with 10 or more persons working. EPF is not applicable .The state's shop and commercial establishment Act and the welfare funds applicable to it will have to be complied with.
VARGHESE MATHEW
04712542059,08547139493

Dear Ms Jose,
If the service centre comes within the notified area of the ESI, then the employees drawing salary upto Rs.15,000/- pm will have to be covered. In addition, shop and commercial establishments act of concerned state will apply, so also payment of bonus and payment of gratuity act will be applicable. Mediclaim is not mandatory as per law. EPF will be payable if the total strength of the employees goes up to 20 or more.