Labour
Labour codes, PF, ESI and payroll compliance.
7stories · Rule change
October 2026
-
ESIC revises constitution and functioning of Medical Boards under section 37 of the Code on Social Security, 2020: Fixed Medical Board to meet at least once a month
Board at least once every monthRule changeESIC has issued revised arrangements, with immediate effect, for the Medical Boards that examine and assess Insured Persons under section 37 of the Code on Social Security, 2020. A Fixed Medical Board is ordinarily to meet at least once every month, a Rotational Peripatetic Medical Board will sit at different ESIC/ESIS Hospitals as required, and the Special Medical Board for occupational disease cases continues at designated centres.
-
Code on Social Security section 1(4) notification now covers the whole area of 31 Gujarat districts from 1 October 2026: ESIC circular on S.O. 5310(E)
31 Gujarat districts, 1 Oct 2026Rule changeESIC has circulated Gazette notification S.O. 5310(E) dated 25 September 2026 of the Ministry of Labour & Employment, issued under section 1(4) of the Code on Social Security. It applies to the entire areas of 15 districts of Gujarat that were non-implemented and 16 that were partially implemented, with effect from 1 October 2026.
September 2026
-
ESI coverage notified in the entire area of 25 districts of Madhya Pradesh from 1 October 2026
25 districts of MPRule changeA Gazette notification under section 1(4) of the Code on Social Security covers the whole of Niwari, which was not implemented at all, and of 24 districts that were only partly covered.
-
EPF wage ceiling raised from ₹15,000 to ₹25,000 a month with effect from 17 September 2026
₹25,000Rule changeThe Union Cabinet has approved a higher wage ceiling for mandatory EPFO coverage. Employees drawing between ₹15,000 and ₹25,000 a month become eligible for mandatory coverage.
-
PF investment pattern amended: rupee bonds of IBRD, IFC, ADB and New Development Bank with at least three years’ outstanding maturity — S.O. 5009(E)
Rupee bonds: IBRD, IFC, ADB, NDBRule changeThe Labour Ministry has amended the investment pattern notified under section 17(3)(a) of the Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952. In the debt category, clause (c) of Category (ii) now reads: rupee bonds with an outstanding maturity of at least three years issued by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, International Finance Corporation, Asian Development Bank and New Development Bank.
August 2026
-
Code on Wages: bonus for employees drawing up to ₹21,000 a month, to be calculated on ₹7,000 or the Central minimum wage — S.O. 4711(E) and S.O. 4710(E)
Bonus: ₹21,000 limit, ₹7,000 baseRule changeTwo Labour Ministry notifications dated 25 August 2026 under section 26 of the Code on Wages, 2019 fix the bonus numbers: every employee drawing wages not exceeding ₹21,000 a month is to be paid bonus, and where the wage is above ₹7,000 a month the bonus is calculated as if the wage were ₹7,000 or the minimum wage fixed by the Central Government, whichever is higher. Both are deemed to have come into force on 21 November 2025.
April 2026
-
Maharashtra profession tax: March and annual returns now due on 15 March; late fee waived for March 2026 returns filed by 30 April
Due date: 15 MarchRule changeMaharashtra amended rule 11 of its Profession Tax Rules on 28 February 2026, bringing the due date for the March return and for annual returns forward to 15 March. After portal problems, Trade Circular 2T of 2026 waived the whole late fee for March 2026 and FY 2025-26 PTRC returns filed by 30 April 2026 where the tax was paid by 15 March.
The morning brief
One email each working morning with the day’s tax, GST and company-law news. It is starting soon; leave your address and it comes to you from day one.