Who Handles EPF Compliance for Operators of Hired Equipment: Company or Agency?

Please let us know the applicability of EPF for the operator of hired equipment/machinery. Who is responsible for the EPF compliance of the operator? Is it the company or the hired agency, and under which act?

It depends on the contract of service entered into with the vendors. If the fixed amount or lease rent includes the operator, then their salary will be taken care of by the machine's owner. However, if the company where the machine has been temporarily installed is only hiring the machinery and has sourced an operator from elsewhere, then that company should pay the salary to that operator. Subsequently, the company should also pay the ESI/EPF for that operator.