Bizprout Updates : August 2024

Professional Tax Rate amendment in Kerala

The Sixth State Finance Commission, in its second report, had recommended to the government to revise the employment tax slabs of gram panchayats and municipalities. The Government of Kerala has accepted this recommendation and issued the general order in vide notification.No1149/2024/LSGD .

Restricted Holiday on occasion of Hariyali Teej

The Government of Haryana vide No.28/67/2008-1-HR-I, has issued Notification regarding Restricted Holiday on occasion of Hariyali Teej observed on 07th August 2024 instead of 06th September 2024 in Haryana.

Option to pay monthly contribution under Haryana Labour Welfare Fund

The Government of Haryana vide Notification No. HLWB/REV/2024/3755-3804 dated 9-Jul-2024, notified that provision for monthly deposit of the contribution to the Labour Welfare Fund has been enabled on the online portal. It was stated that provisions for monthly contributions under the Punjab Labour Welfare Fund Act, 1965 (Haryana Amended), have been made available on the online portal. Employers are directed to make use of the monthly payment of contribution like EPF and ESI.

ESI SOP for Super Specialty Treatments

The Employees State Insurance Corporation vide Circular No. U-16012/392/2022-SST dated 25-Jul-2024, directed ESIC authorities to rigorously verify and scrutiny the documents for Super Specialty Treatment (SST) cases of insured persons (IPs) and their family members.

ESIC Timely determination of contribution - Sec 45A

The Employees State Insurance Corporation vide Circular No . T – 11/13/66/01/2023-Rev.II all field offices are directed to adhere to the time limit provided u/s 45-A of ESI Act 1948 (as amended) while determining the contribution and issuing of speaking orders to avoid litigation and resultant loss to the Corporation.

EPF SOP for Joint Declaration for Updating and others

EPFO vide Circular No.3931 dated 31-Jul-2024, issued the Standard Operating Procedure for the Joint Declaration for Member Profile Updation wherein, to avoid cases of impersonation / identity theft, stronger due diligence is provided for field offices.

EPFO Vide Circular No. 3106 dated 04-Jul-2024, issued Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the freezing and defreezing of Member Identification (MID), Universal Account Number (UAN), and Establishment IDs.

EPFO Vide Circular No. 6102 dated 11-Jul-2024, issued the Standard Operating Procedure for the management and regulation of EPF exempted establishments, including the finalized Form RM-6 regarding third party audit.

EPFO vide Circular No.3978 dated 02-Aug-2024, issued the Standard Operating Procedure to handle transaction less and in-operative accounts to avoid cases of impersonation / identity theft.

EPFO Vide Circular No.3417 dated 11^th July 2024, instructed all its field offices to take necessary actions in promoting the campaign on Facial Authentication Technology (FAT) for submission of Digital Life Certificates by the beneficiaries. The life certificate has to be submitted to the concerned authority, such as the pension disbursement bank, common service centre, Indian Post Office, nearest EPFO, etc. It is necessary to provide proof of the pensioner being alive to get the monthly pension.

Maharashtra Shops and Establishments mandated to obtain Insurance for premises

The Government of Maharashtra Vide Gazette Notification No. MS&EA-08/2021/C.R.153/Labour-10 dated 22-Jul-2024, amended the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 2018 by mandating the insurance certificate of the establishment premises while applying for registration in Form A, Applying for Renewal in Form D, Intimation of registration of establishment with headcount below 10 in Form-F, and annual return filed before February 28^th every year in Form-R. Further, copies of the insurance certificate are to be uploaded while applying , renewing and intimating for registration in Forms A, D & F.

Minimum Wages

1. The Labour & ESI Department of Odisha has issued an Official No . 5308─ LESI-LL1-III-0081-2017/LESI on 18 July 2024, announcing the revised minimum wage rates for 89 Scheduled Employments. These new rates are effective from 18 July 2024.
2. The Government of Punjab vide No. St/0607, has issued Punjab Minimum wages Notification for scheduled employment with effect from 01st March 2024.
3. The Government of Uttar Pradesh vide 02/2024/707/36-03-2024-1619905, has issued notification regarding revision of minimum wages for agricultural workers with effect from 01st April 2024.
4. The Administrator of UT. Of Andaman and Nicobar Islands vide No.A-196/1/2022-Lab.Ins-I-LAB-AN, has released minimum wages for six schedules of employment with effect from 01st July 2024.
5. The Government of West Bengal Vide No: 22/Stat/14/RW/24/2023/LCS/JLC, has released minimum wages for various scheduled employment with effect from 01st July 2024 .

Private placement agencies - Assam

The Government of Assam vide Notification No.271442/104, has issued Notification of the Assam Private Placement Agencies for Recruitment of Workers (Regulation) Rules, 2024. The Rules aim to regulate the activities undertaken by private placement agencies in Assam and streamline the governance of workers recruited through these agencies. The primary objective is to regulate the operation of the private placement agencies by introducing a formal licensing process, consequently creating a database of all such agencies. The Rules mandate all such licensed agencies to furnish and maintain records of all recruited workers including clear details about the terms of employment, supervisors, salary, and nature of work. Agencies found to be in breach of the rules may face severe penalties, including suspension or cancellation of their licenses, thereby reinforcing the importance of compliance with the prescribed standards.

COMPLIANCES FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST 2024