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Statutory EPF and ESIC Compliance for Raigarh’s Steel, Power, and Secondary Metal Clusters
Raigarh is a high-enforcement district due to hazardous metal processing, power generation and extensive contract labour deployment.
Raigarh’s Industrial Compliance Risks & Strategic Focus
Medium and large-scale steel units with layered vendor structures face intense EPF and ESIC scrutiny.
Principal Employer Liability – Steel & Sponge Iron Units
RO Bilaspur uses Unified Portal digital tracking to ensure vendors handling transport, maintenance and material movement are PF/ESI compliant.
EEC-2025 – Voluntary Regularization Window
From Nov 2025 to April 2026, MSMEs can regularize workers missed since 2017 with a ₹100 penalty, avoiding Section 14B damages and 7Q interest.
Hazardous Process ESIC Mandate
Sponge iron, rolling mills and coal-handling units require ESIC coverage from the first employee under the Social Security Code 2025.
Key Economic Zones & Statutory Authority
Industrial Clusters
Punjipathra, Tamnar and Kharsia – steel, power and mining ancillaries with PE exposure.
Power & Energy Sector
Thermal power plants with coal and ash-handling contractor audits.
Steel Belt Operations
Sponge iron and rolling mills requiring salary restructuring and headcount verification.
Statutory Authority
Regional Office (RO) Bilaspur and ESIC Branch Office Raigarh.
Core EPF & ESIC Compliance Challenges in Raigarh
Section 7A & 14B Exposure
Historic non-compliance often results in retrospective assessments with interest and penal damages.
Contractor Default Risk
Principal Employers can face direct recovery if vendors fail to deposit statutory dues.
New Wage Code – 50% Rule
Allowance-heavy payrolls are flagged, increasing PF and ESIC contribution bases from late 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
Raigarh district is governed by the Regional Office (RO) Bilaspur.
Yes. For hazardous processes, ESIC coverage is mandatory from the first employee under the Social Security Code 2025.
It allows contractors to regularize left-out workers with a ₹100 penalty, ensuring continued eligibility to work with large steel and power plants.
From late 2025, Basic + DA must be at least 50% of gross salary, preventing artificial wage splitting to reduce PF/ESI contributions.