Salary Delayed: Can We Pay the PF Contribution Before the Salary?

Salary is not paid to the employee. Can we pay PF contribution instead?
For example, if the August salary is not paid to the employee, can we pay the PF amount for the same month?
Can we pay the PF contribution and then the salary????

Interest and Damages for Late Payment of PF

You cannot escape from interest and damages for late payment of PF on the ground that you have not paid salary. You can only escape from criminal proceedings against the employer, which are always initiated when you fail to pay the PF deducted from the employees. The proceedings in such an occasion will include imprisonment!

Nonpayment of Salary and Legal Implications

Nonpayment of salary is an offense as per the Payment of Wages Act. If you want to avoid penalties from two authorities, i.e., PF Organization and Labor Department, then you may pay the PF alone. This applies to ESI payment as well.