Factory Licensing Dilemma: Do Apprentices Count Towards Your Workforce Limit?

Are apprentices countable in a factory license or not?

Kindly justify.

No, apprentices engaged following the Apprentice Act are not workers but are trainees, and they are not covered by any of the labor laws. However, if the trainee is not engaged as per the Apprentice Act, either under a designated trade or an optional trade, they are considered workers only, and as such, their number should be counted for factory license purposes.

As per Sections 14 and 16 of the Apprentices Act, apprentices are considered workers under the Factories Act for health, safety, and welfare. They are also covered under the Employees' Compensation Act.