Central

Self Declaration For Advance Granted For Illness And For The Physically Handicapped

Government of India vide gazette notification dated 25th April 2017, has made amendments to the Employees Provident Funds Scheme. Under Para 68-J and in Para 68-N for grant of advance from the fund in case of illness and to members who are physically handicapped, the earlier required provisions for requirement of a certificate from a doctor of the hospital, a certificate from his employer that the ESI benefits are not applicable and medical certificate from a competent medical practitioner to the effect that person is physically handicapped respectively have been removed. Thus, as per the changes made under the amendments to the EPFS a member can submit a self declaration to get the advance for illness under Para 68-J and the advance for the physically handicapped under Para 68-N

Pondicherry

The Puducherry Minimum Wages Notification (Jan 2017)

As per gazette notification No. 2/Lab/AIL/G/2012/572, Minimum Wages released for the Union Territory of Puducherry effective 1st January 2017

Central

The Employee's Compensation (Amendment) Act, 2017

The Employee's Compensation Act, 1923 has been amended with the new Section 17 A requiring the Employer at the time of employment to inform employees of their rights under this Act in writing and in electronic form in English or in Hindu or in official language of the area of employment. General penalty under Section 18 (1) of the Act has been increased from five thousand rupees to fifty thousand rupees which may extend to one lakh rupees. In case of appeal under Section 30 (1) previously appeal would lie if the amount in dispute in the appeal was not less than three hundred rupees, now this has changed to ten thousand rupees or as Central Government may direct. With regards to withholding of certain payments pending decision of appeal, by Commissioner on direction of High Court under Section 30 A, this provision has now been omitted. The effective date of the Act will be notified by the Central Government in the near future

Central

The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017 Clarification

The Ministry of Labour and Employment has released the FAQs and clarification of the questions surrounding the Maternity Benefit Amendment 2017, Wherein, creche facility provisions will come into effect on 1st July, 2017 and the rest of the Act will come into effect from 1st April, 2017. Enhanced maternity benefit leave of 26 weeks can be availed by women who were already under maternity leave at the time of the enforcement of the Amendment Act. Women who have already availed 12 weeks of Maternity leave before enforcement of the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017, i.e 1st April 2017, shall not be entitled to avail extended maternity benefit of the 26 weeks leave.

Central

Withdrawal Of PF To Facilitate Housing Needs Of Workers

Government of India vide gazette notification dated 12th April 2017, has made amendments to the Employees Provident Funds Scheme. A member may withdraw or finance from the amount standing to his credit in the Fund, for the purchase of dwelling house or flat or the construction of a dwelling house. The amount of the withdrawal should not exceed ninety percent of contribution and interest accumulated in his share.The withdrawal can only be made once and is restricted to members who have had membership of the Fund for at least three years

Central

Compulsory Submission Of Life Certificate/Digital Jeevan Pramaan By Pensioners To Continue Availing Of Benefits

As per recent EPFO circular dated 11 April 2017, the EPFO has made it mandatory for all pensioners of the EPS, 1995 who are desirous of continuing benefits of the said scheme to furnish their Jeevan Pramaan/ Life Certificate by 30.04.2017, wherein submission has to be made online and physical submission may be accepted only on valid grounds. The pensioners who have not submitted the Jeevan Pramaan/ Life Certificate either online or physically, such pension shall be stopped from the month of May 2017

Central

Scheme To Promote Registration Of Employers Or Employees (SPREE) Date Extended

ESIC had earlier released this Scheme on 20.12.2016 to extend social security benefits to all-eligible under the ESI Act and who had been kept out of ESI coverage could register anew between 20.12.2016 to 31.03.2017. Now as per a recent circular the scheme has been extended effective 01.04.2017 to 30.06.2017. Newly registered employers will be treated as covered from the date of registration or as declared by them. Whereas, newly registered employees will be treated as covered from their date of registration

Odisha

The Odisha Minimum Wages Notification (April 2016)

The Government of Odisha vide Notification number 3905/LC has released the Minimum Wages effective from 1st April 2016 for the State of Odisha

Karnataka

The Karnataka Labour Welfare Fund Contribution Revision (April 2017)

As per Karnataka Gazette dated 6th April 2017, the Government of Karnataka has released the Karnataka Labour Welfare Fund (Amendment) Act, 2017. As per the amendment the rate of contribution to Karnataka LWF has been changed from Rs 12 to Rs 40 for employer and from Rs 6 to Rs 20 for employee, with extra Rs 20 being contribution of State Government made directly to the Board. Thus, now the employer has to pay a total yearly contribution for employer and employee amounting to Rs 60 to the board

Punjab

The Punjab Minimum Wages Notification (Mar 2017)

As per notification number No. ST/7179 Minimum Wages has been released for the State of Punjab effective 1st March 2017