Minimum Wages revision in Maharashtra, Himachal and West Bengal

Government of Maharashtra vide notification dated 01-Aug-2023 notified the minimum wages to 67 scheduled employments, effective from 01-Jul-2023 till 31-Dec-2023.

Government of West Bengal vide circular dated 28-Jul-2023 notified the minimum rates of wages for employees employed in 30 (thirty) scheduled employments effective from 01-Jul-2023 to 31-Dec-2023 and include establishments as defined under Shops and Establishments Act, 1963 and security services.

Government of Himachal Pradesh vide notification dated 28-Jul-2023, notified the minimum wages effective from 01-Apr-2023 for 19 scheduled employments including security services, domestic workers, hotels, private educational institutes, engineering industries and factories as well as shops and commercial establishments.

Exemption notification under Karnataka Tax on Professions Act

Government of Karnataka vide Gazette Notification dated 13-Jul-2023 notified that effective immediately, 14 professions are exempted from payment of tax on professions. These professions include charitable hospitals outside Bangalore, individuals with single child with sterilization certificate, physically challenged persons with disability of above 40% of upper and lower extremity deformities, taxi permit holders, foreign technicians, ex-servicemen, etc.

Declaration of rate of interest for EPF members for 2022-23

Employees’ Provident Fund Organization vide circular dated 24-Jul-2023, declared crediting of interest @ 8.15% for the year 2022-23 to the account of each member of the EPF Scheme as per provisions of Para 60 of EPF Scheme, 1952.

Amendment of Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules

Government of India vide Notification dated 17-Jul-2023 amended rule 15(1) of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2017 by inserting clause pertaining to guidelines on accessing residential facilities for sports persons with disabilities, civil aviation, rural housing etc. The said rules mandate every establishment to display equal opportunity policies in their premises and every private establishment with 20 (twenty) or more employees shall provide in their policy details of posts, assistive devices, amenities etc.

Chhattisgarh notification on Labour Welfare Board

Government of Chhattisgarh vide Notification dated 30-Jun-2023 notified that to avail benefit from Labour Welfare Fund of Chhattisgarh, individuals without Aadhaar can get benefits by providing other government issued identity documents.

Andhra Notification on guidelines for safety in certain Factories

Andhra Pradesh Government vide Gazette Notification dated 6-Jul-2023, notified the operating guidelines for certain factories under Rule 12-B of the Andhra Pradesh Factories Rules, 1950 to ensure safety of workers working in confined spaces such as Lock-Out-Tag-Out (LOTO) for sources with electrical/hydraulic/pneumatic energies, personal protective equipment (PPE) such as safety shoes, gloves, goggles, face shields, safety helmets etc.

Amendment of ESIC Rules to claim maternity benefit during 2021.

Ministry of Labour and Employment vide Gazette Notification dated 25-Jul-2023, notified the amendment to Rules 55 (Sickness Benefit) and 56 (Maternity Benefit), to accommodate lesser number of working days during the year 2020 to accommodate availing sickness or maternity benefit during 01-Jan-2021 to 30-Jun-2021.

ESIC Clarification on correction in Date of Birth

ESIC vide Notification No.P-11014 dated 24-Jul-2023, clarified that in case of correction or updating of date of birth of employees, Aadhaar Card may be accepted as proof even if the change varies 3 (three) years or more.

Haryana Government Proposes Crèche Policy

The Women and Child Development Department of Haryana vide Gazette notification dated 21-Jul-2023, notified the Creche Policy to encourage more women to be engaged. The policy inter-alia proposes to charge a suitable fee from the parents for the creche services, provide government structures on rent for establishing creches, etc.

Bills passed parliament and legislatures.

The Rajya Sabha passed the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2023 on 02-Aug-2023. The said Bill was passed by Lok Sabha on 27-Jul-2023, which proposes to decriminalize 42 central Acts. For example, while operating diesel generating sets without a consent under Air (Prevention and control of Pollution) Act, 1981 was punishable with imprisonment of minimum 1.5 years to maximum 6 years and it is proposed to be replaced with a penalty of minimum Rs.15,000/- to maximum fifteen lakh rupees.

Rajasthan Government has invited comments from the general public on the Rajasthan Platform-Based Gig Workers (Registration and Welfare) Bill 2023 which was passed on 27-Jul-2023 before Rajasthan Legislative Assembly, which inter-alia provides for registration of aggregators and platform-based gig workers.

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COMPLIANCES FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST 2023