Is the ESI Act Applicable to Seasonal Industries Like Ours? Seeking Guidance on Arrears Issue

I am a rice miller in Punjab, having 5-9 employees along with a contractor supplying 15-20 workers on a contract basis. My industry is a seasonal one, working on job contracts for the government from October to March every year. We are registered with EPF. We have never received any notice from the ESI department for registration. An official visited our factory and urged us to register with ESI and deposit the arrears from 1.9.2029. Since our industry is seasonal, we wonder if the ESI Act is applicable to us. Please guide us.

ESIC applies to seasonal industries as much as it applies to normal industries. You should register when the total number of workers exceeds the mandatory limit.

How to Calculate Arrears
How much of the arrears you need to pay, you need to work out. There are ways to avoid paying too much, but be careful as you do not want a legal battle with the regulators where you are in the wrong.