Kerala

The Kerala Minimum Wages Notification (May 2017)

Government of Kerala, Labour and Skills (E) Department has revised the variable dearness allowance for employment in Shops and Commercial Establishment and employment in Computer Software Sector. As per the Notification No. P3.Pdl.1/2017/DES, the Consumer Price Index (Cost of Living Index) Numbers applicable to employees in employment under the Minimum Wages Act (Central Act XI of 1948) for the month of May 2017 are as ascertained by the Director General of Economics & Statistics under clause (C) of Section 2 of the Act

Central

Launch Of Online Complaint Management System For Sexual Harassment At Workplace

As per press release dated 24th July 2017, the Ministry of Women & Child Development has launched an online complaint management system titled " Sexual Harassment electronic–Box" (SHe-Box) for registering complaints related to sexual harassment at workplace. This portal is an initiative to provide a platform to women working or visiting any office of Central Government (Central Ministries, Departments, Public Sector Undertakings, Autonomous Bodies and Institutions etc.). The complaint management system has been developed to ensure the effective implementation of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act. Once a complaint is submitted to the portal, it will be directly sent to the ICC of the concerned Ministry/ Department/ PSU/ Autonomous Body etc. having jurisdiction to inquire into the complaint. Through this portal, the Ministry as well as complainant can monitor the progress of inquiry conducted by the ICC. The SHe-Box portal can be accessed at the link: http://www.wcd-sh.nic.in/

Himachal Pradesh

The Himachal Pradesh Minimum Wages Notification (Apr 2017)

The Government of Himachal Pradesh vide notification No.Shram (A)4-8/2006-Part-III has released the minimum wages for the State of Himachal Pradesh effective 1st April 2017

Central

EPFO Launches PF Transfer Claims Interface Under Unified Portal

As per EPFO circular dated 21st July 2017, the EPFO has highlighted the functionalities of the Member Interface and the Employer Interface under the Unified Portal viz., (1) Members who have their AADHAAR and Bank details seeded to the UAN can submit their PF transfer requests online. However AADHAAR is not mandatory for submitting online PF transfer request. Members have to duly fill in the transfer request on the Member Interface, post filling of the form a downloadable version of Form 13 will be available for the member. The Member is required to download the Form 13, sign and upload the same within a period of ten days from the date of submitted the transfer request in the Member portal. (2) Employers, on receipt of signed physical copy of the claim request PDF(Form 13)from the member, have to digitally approve the transfer requests submitted by the members using Digital Signature of the authorised personnel in the Employer interface Online Portal. To process transfers submitted post 1st March 2017, employers post receipt of signed copy of transfer claim PDF(Form 13) should attest the same and send it to the concerned EPFO Field Office for processing. Employers can now use the UAN/ Member ID of member to verify the following (1) Details of new joiners before completing the New Employee Registration process, (2) Verify previous employment details and (3) Verify KYC details of members. Furthermore, It has been observed by EPFO that that employers are registering new joiners in their establishment as fresh employment cases whereby the member is allotted a new UAN by the system. Thus, EPFO has directed its Field Offices to ensure that a member should have only one UAN throughout his or her employment life cycle cutting across multiple establishments and to minimize the allotment of new UAN to any member who is already allotted UAN

Central

EPF Compliance Instructions For Establishments With Multiple Branches For ECR Filing

As per EPFO circular dated 21st July 2017, the EPFO has noted that there are many establishments which have employees working at different locations and branches but the payment of PF dues of all the workers is made under a single PF code number and there was a need for a facility for field offices to monitor compliance in their respective inspection areas. Accordingly, a facility has been provided to such employers to furnish their location-wise employees particulars. The procedure to utilize the facility is detailed herewith. An employer can declare for each employee the period for which the employee has worked at a particular branch/location. The employer should use their login to add all the branches/ locations of the establishment in Form 5A. The period of posting of employees at various branches/locations can be declared by the employer by using the "Member Location Mapping" option under the "Establishment" tab in the employer's portal. This can be done either by entering data on the screen one by one or in bulk by uploading a file. The Field offices are directed to inform employers about this facility and advise them to use the same. Thus, it shall be mandatory on the part of all such multiple location establishments to fill the details of location-wise employees in Form 5A in the Member Location Mapping

Central

Non Filing OF Returns By Exempted Establishments

As per EPFO circular dated 19th July 2017, the EPFO has observed that all exempted establishments have not filed prescribed returns till date through the portal for e-filing returns for exempted establishments which was launched on 27.05.2017, whereas the returns were to be filed before 15.06.2017. Hence, the EPFO has directed all field offices to ensure due filing of prescribed returns by 25.07.2017. If any establishment is found not complying with the aforesaid due date, then they will be immediately inspected and post Inspection necessary action for cancellation of exemption can be initiated against the defaulting establishments after giving an opportunity of being heard

Central

Introduction Of Self-Declaration Form For Insured Woman Relating To Maternity Benefit Under ESI Scheme

As per ESIC circular dated 18th July 2017, the ESIC has introduced a Self-declaration Form for the Insured Woman. The ESIC had noticed some instances, that the family particulars of IP/IW vary from those available in the IP portal which lead to undue benefit. In order to obviate this issue, it has been decided to obtain a self declaration from the Insured Woman for number of her surviving children as on date of presenting the maternity benefit claim. If there is an inconsistency between the declaration and the particulars on the portal, then 12 week of maternity benefit would be paid immediately from the ESIC Branch. Remaining payment, if any, will be made to Insured woman within 14 days subject to verification. Thus, Insured woman shall now submit self-declaration Form along with claim form No. 19 for the settlement of Maternity Benefit Claim

Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu And Kashmir Shops And Establishments Amendment Rules, 2017

As per SRO 293, Government of Jammu and Kashmir has amended the Rule 3 and 4 of the Jammu and Kashmir Shops and Establishment Rules 1968. As per the amendment Registration Certificate in Form C, Close day certificate in Form O and the renewal of Registration Certificate in Form C shall be done within 15 days

Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu And Kashmir Industrial Employment (Standing Order) Amendment Rules, 2017

As per SRO 294, Government of Jammu and Kashmir has amended the Rule 4 of the Jammu and Kashmir Industrial Employment (Standing Order) Rules 1946. As per the amendment the Certifying Officer shall issue certificate of Standing orders within a period of 45 days

Central

ECR Rejection/Revision - Pre/Post Unified Portal

As per recent EPFO circular dated 11th July 2017, the EPFO has provided solution to certain challenges that the employers were facing viz. (1) Issue of Incorrect Month/ Year was mentioned in ECR - In the EPFO application the provision for ECR Revision (Month/Year) has been provided to revise ECRs where month and year needs to be changed, provided no settlement is made and no PMRPY beneficiary exists. (2) Incorrect UAN mentioned in ECR/Double TRRN for the same month - the EPFO has provided Application Version 5.36 for the field offices to reject ECRs or adjust amount or refund the amount to the employer. (3) Double Payment made by employer for same month using different TRRN/ Double Payment paid by employer against same TRRN and wants to get refund - the EPFO has stated that the Unified portal has already taken steps to refund the amount to the employer directly to their bank account. (4) To refund the amount against amount paid in misc. option - the EPFO has stated that currently misc. payments and receipts are being managed by field office manually. Hence field offices may refund the amount to the employer after verifying the details by preparing a cheque manually. Against this cheque, misc. payment entry in the application software may be made. In the future, Field office may also opt to adjust the amount against the future TRRN using Establishment VDR