Minimum Wages

Rajasthan - The Government of Rajasthan Vide. Notification No – F 7/CPI Ajmer/Jaipur/ Part-III/2004 dated 07-Aug-2025 notified revision of minimum wages for Jaipur, Alwar and Bhilwada with effect from 01/01/2025 to 30/06/2025.

Uttar Pradesh - The Government of Uttar Pradesh Vide. Notification No – 781-803/IRD-2025(P.B. Eng) dated 21-Aug-2028, notified the revision of minimum wages for Engineering Industry with effect from 01-Aug-2025 to 31-Jan-2026.

Holiday List – 2026

Bihar - The Government of Bihar Vide No. 3/H-01/2025-SA 15401, notified list of holidays for Calendar Year 2026.

ESI

ESIC announces the kick-starting of outreach activities for Amnesty Scheme 2025

The Press Information Bureau released the ESIC announcement of kick-starting of outreach activities for Amnesty Scheme 2025 offering a one-time opportunity for employers to resolve legal disputes under the ESI Act through out-of-court settlements. Effective from 1st October 2025 to 30th September 2026, it aims to reduce litigation backlog and promote ease of doing business.

Notification for alternate documents other than Adhaar for ESI beneficiaries

The Employees State Insurance Corporation vide Circular F.No. R-1 9025/2712022-5S-l, provided the Gazette Notification No. S.O. 3792 (E) dated 19-Aug-2025, for accepting alternate documents other than Adhaar for identification of ESI beneficiaries. Ministry of Labour and Employment has authorised the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation to use Aadhaar authentication, with the holder’s consent, for delivering social security benefits and ensuring good governance, on a voluntary basis. Beneficiaries who do not wish to use Aadhaar can establish identity through alternate documents such as a passport, PAN card, or driving licence, and cannot be denied services for refusing Aadhaar authentication. This notification supersedes the January 2023 order and takes effect from its publication in the Official Gazette.

EPFO

EPF Simplification of death claims-non-requirement of guardianship certificate for settlements to bank accounts of minor children

The Employees Provident Fund Organisation vide Circular No.WSU/Death Claims/E-1115891/2025-26/25 dated 13-Aug-2025, notified the simplification of death claims by removing guardianship certificate for settlements to bank accounts of minor children in EPF.

Circular on Seeding/Correcting Aadhaar in UAN in EPF

The Employees Provident Fund Organisation vide Circular No.WSU/MemberProfile/E-710137/2025-26/26, clarified on Seeding/Correcting Aadhaar in Universal Account Number (UAN). Adhaar seeding for UAN KYC & streamlined service delivery by allowing members to update their profiles directly once UIDAI verification is complete, significantly reducing benefit processing time. Employers can now seed or correct Aadhaar through the online Joint Declaration (JD) on the portal without EPFO approval if name, gender, and date of birth match, while mismatches or erroneous links are rectified via JD with Regional Office authorization. If an employer is unavailable, members may submit a physical JD at the Regional Office’s PRO counter, with all Aadhaar seeding or corrections subject to APFC-level scrutiny and approval.

State wise Notifications

Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Notification of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Factories (Amendment) Rules, 2025

The Administrator of Andaman and Nicobar Islands vide No.67/2025/F.No.2530973/1/2025-ALC(SA)-LAB_AN/921, notified the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Factories (Amendment) Rules, 2025. extending every factory licence validity to five years. It also proposes Rule 93A, permitting women workers to be employed between 5 am and 10 pm with their written consent, effective upon Gazette publication.

Andhra Pradesh

Draft amendment to Andhra Pradesh Factories Rules, 1950

The Government of Andhra Pradesh vide G.O Ms.No.3 notified in Gazette No.31 dated 6-Aug-2025 amendment of Rule 76-B of Andhra Pradesh Factories Rules, 1950 with regard to qualification of safety officers and their Telugu knowledge and has sought objection and suggestions from stake holders for the amendment.

Bihar

Repeal of old Shops and Establishment Act with new Act in Bihar

Government of Bihar Vide No. LG-01-14/2025/5089-Leg, repealed the Bihar Shops and Establishment Act, 1953 with the Bihar Shops and Establishment (Employment Regulation and Conditions of Service) Act, 2025. Inter-alia the new Act provides for creche facility for establishments with 30 or more women employees, canteen for entities with 100 or more workers, 12 days of national holidays and festivals, 15 days of sick leave/casual leave etc.

Chandigarh

Exemption to open the shops 24×7 in Chandigarh

The Government of Chandigarh Vide No. 12/2/149-HII (2)2025/12994, notified the exemption to open 24×7 for Shops and Commercial Establishments. The exemption is subject to strict conditions on employee welfare, including weekly rest, work-hour limits, safety measures, and extensive protections for women employees such as secure transport, workplace facilities, and compliance with the Sexual Harassment Act. Employers must also follow child labour laws, provide paid national/festival holidays, maintain records, install CCTV and emergency alarms, and risk cancellation of the exemption for any violations.

Chhattisgarh

Extension of validity of license Chhattisgarh Factories Rules, 1962

The Government of Chhattisgarh vide No. RULE-5/39/2025-LABOUR, has released Amendment notification under the Chhattisgarh Factories Rules, 1962. amended Rule 5 of the Factories Rules, 1962, replacing the validity of license of “10 years” with “15 years.”

Delhi

Exemptions from Section 14, 15 of the Delhi Shops and Establishments Act, 1954

The Government of NCT Delhi Vide F. No. 28/Addl.LC/Exemp./S&E, Act/2021/2438, notified the addition exemption details in Schedule -I under Section 4 of the Delhi Shops and Establishments Act, 1954, which inter-alia includes limiting working hours to 48 hours per week, installation of CCTV (closed circuit television) for shifts beyond normal working hours, obtaining consent of women employed in night shifts, etc.

Goa

Draft Factories (Goa Amendment) Act, 2025

The Government of Goa Vide No. LA/LEGN/2025/1479 dated 01-Aug-2025, notified the Factories (Goa Amendment) Act, 2025, proposing to amend Section 54 of Factories Act, 1948 to increase the maximum daily working hours for adult workers in Goa from nine to ten hours. It also proposes to amend Section 65 to raise the permissible quarterly overtime limit from 125 hours to 144 hours, aiming to streamline regulations and promote ease of doing business.

Jharkhand

Draft Jharkhand Factories (Amendment) Rules, 2025

The Government of Jharkhand Vide Notification No. 7/ Jharkhand Amendment 1020/2025 Notification – 455 dated 01-Aug-2025, notified the Jharkhand Factories (Amendment) Rules, 2025, proposing to amend multiple schedules of the 1950 Rules to prohibit employing pregnant women, lactating mothers, adolescents and children in specified operations—while still allowing other women to work with their consent.

Permitting night shift for women workers in Jharkhand Factories

The Government of Jharkhand Vide Gazette Notification No.396 dated 25-Aug-2025, notified the Factories (Jharkhand Amendment) Act, 2025, permitting women workers, with their consent, to work in factories between 7:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Such employment is subject to state‑prescribed conditions on safety, holidays, working hours, and other safeguards.

Himachal Pradesh

Exemption notification of Women employment during night shifts for factories

The Government of Himachal Pradesh Vide No. LEP-A003/19/2023-Loose-II, notified exemption to women employment during night shifts for all factories, subject to conditions such as CCTV, first aid box, PoSH Committee as well as submission of a quarterly return to the Inspector having jurisdiction about details of employees engaged during night shifts through electronic mode.

Punjab

Exemption notification on women employment during night for S&E in Punjab

The Government of Punjab vide No. Labour-Lab/OPSCA/2/2021-5L/656, notified exemption of women employment during night shifts under Shops and Commercial Establishment Act subject to conditions such as providing boarding and lodging facilities under the control of women warden, having two women security personnel during night shifts, minimum of 5 women to be employed during night, etc.

Notification of the Punjab Shops and Commercial Establishments (Amendment) Act, 2025

The Government of Punjab Vide No. 13-Leg. /2025, notified the Punjab Shops and Commercial Establishments (Amendment) Act, 2025. proposing to simplify compliance for small businesses by exempting establishments with fewer than 20 workers from full registration, requiring only basic information submission. Inter-alia the amendment increases permissible working hours to 12 per day and quarterly overtime to 144 hours, with mandatory double pay for overtime. Penalties have been rationalized, registration for larger businesses is now deemed approved within 24 hours, and offences can be compounded to avoid court proceedings

Karnataka

Karnataka Platform Based Gig Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Act, 2025 Notified

Government of Karnataka vide Gazette Notification No. 455 dated 12-Aug-2025 notified the Karnataka Platform Based Gig Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Act, 2025 enacting comprehensive protections for platform-based gig workers in Karnataka by obligating aggregators to provide social security, occupational health and safety, transparent automated monitoring, dispute resolution effective from 30-May-2025. Within 45 days of commencement, the aggregator is mandated to register all gig workers. However, the rules are awaited to be notified.

Labour Commissioner Office order on survey of establishments on PoSH implementation

The Government of Karnataka vide Office Order No. GGDAT/CIA30/2023-2024 dated 21-Aug-2025, directed all Labour Officers to collect information within a period of six weeks from all shops and commercial establishments with a head count of 10 or more on the formation of internal complaints committee under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, in line with the Supreme Court Direction in Miscellaneous Application No. 22553/2023 dated 12-Aug-2025.

Kerala

Draft Kerala Factories (Amendment) Rules, 2025

The Government of Kerala Vide No. B2/154/2024/LBR dated 13-Aug-2025, notified the Kerala Factories (Amendment) Rules, 2025 proposing to insert ovens, driers and thermic fluid heaters into rule 2A and streamline the electronic application, assessment, renewal and appeal procedures for recognizing “competent persons.”

Gujarat

Draft Code on Social Security (Gujarat) (Amendment) Rules, 2025

The Government of Gujarat vide No. GR/2025/116/PGA/172021/24659/M3 dated 18-Aug-2025, notified the draft Code on Social Security (Gujarat) (Amendment) Rules, 2025 proposing to reduce certain time limits and mandates employers to deposit ₹15,000 (plus transport costs) within 48 hours for funeral expenses in case of an employee’s death, and allows specific compensation reviews without medical certificates. It also expands the Welfare Board’s powers to implement state schemes for insurance, education, and medical aid, and proposes provisions for borrowing and managing staff benefit funds.

Puducherry

Exemption notification on opening the Shops and Establishments 24×7 on all days

The Government of Puducherry Vide G.O Ms. No.10 dated 14-Aug-2025, notified on opening the Shops and Establishments 24×7 on all days effective immediately. Also, it states that employers must grant each employee one weekly holiday on a rotational basis, publicly display holiday and leave rosters, and credit all wages and overtime directly into employees’ bank accounts. Women working night shifts (8 pm–6 am) must give written consent, receive maternity-benefit protection, have access to well-lit facilities (toilets, washrooms, drinking water, entry/exit), and benefit from CCTV security and Sexual Harassment Act compliance; violations will attract action.

Third Party Certification Scheme under Puducherry S&E Act, 1964

The Government of Puducherry Vide G.O Ms. No.09, notified Third Party Certification Scheme under Puducherry S&E Act, 1964, effective from 14-Aug-2025, which streamlines regulations and reduces the compliance burden for shops and establishments under labour laws (including the Puducherry Shops and Establishments Act, Minimum Wages Act, and Payment of Wages Act) to enhance ease of doing business. Compliance audits will follow statutory standards, and auditors are barred from inspecting any establishment where they hold employment, ownership, managerial ties, or had business involvement in the past three years.

Rajasthan

Exemption from registration for establishments with below 10 workers in Rajasthan

The Government of Rajasthan Vide No.F.14(11)(3) -Part/002067, notified exemption from registration for shops and establishments employing 0-10 workers under the Rajasthan Shops and Establishments Rules, 1959.

West Bengal

Notification on Display of Bengali Language on top of all Signage in Kolkata

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation, Government of West Bengal Vide Municipal Commissioners Circular No.34 of 2025-26, notified that all business, commercial, office, institutional, assembly and other Establishments are requested to include Bangla (Bengali) at the top of all signboards, Hoardings and signage and also all such signage should have Bengali displayed at the top in a prominent size in addition to other language within 30-Sep-2025

Compliance Updates for the Month of September 2025