Labour
Labour codes, PF, ESI and payroll compliance.
3stories · New facility
September 2026
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ESIC recovery: C-18 notices on wages above ₹20 lakh need Joint Director’s prior approval; recovery offices to move to district Branch Offices
C-18 above ₹20 lakh: JD approvalNew facilityTwo ESIC Headquarters memoranda change how dues are assessed and recovered. From the memorandum of 7 August 2026, a C-18 notice involving wages or omitted wages above ₹20 lakh needs prior approval of the Joint Director (Revenue). By an Office Memorandum of 3 September 2026, revenue recovery offices are to be decentralised from Regional and Sub-Regional Offices to Branch Offices, preferably one in a district.
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ESIC issues SOP for compounding first-time offences under section 138 of the Code on Social Security: pay within 15 days, composition certificate in 10 days
Pay in 15 days, certificate in 10New facilityESIC Headquarters has circulated a Standard Operating Procedure for compounding of offences under section 138 of the Code on Social Security, 2020 read with rule 54 of the Social Security (Central) Rules, 2026. An electronic compounding notice goes out in Form-XXIV; the employer pays and applies within 15 days; the composition certificate follows within 10 days. The amount is half the maximum fine for fine-only offences and three-fourths where imprisonment up to one year is also provided.
August 2026
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Shram Suvidha Portal: Labour Ministry may verify users through Aadhaar authentication, but only voluntarily — S.O. 4831(E) replaces the May 2026 notification
Aadhaar check is voluntaryNew facilityBy notification S.O. 4831(E) dated 24 August 2026, the Ministry of Labour and Employment has notified Aadhaar authentication for verifying user details for modules on the Shram Suvidha Portal. It is voluntary, uses only Yes/No and/or e-KYC authentication, needs the Aadhaar holder’s consent, and no service can be denied for refusing it. The notification supersedes S.O. 2523(E) of 15 May 2026.
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