As per EPFO notification dated 25th May 2018, the EPFO has conveyed the approval of the Central Government via The Ministry of Labour and Employment to credit interest at 8.55% for the year 2017-18 to the account of each member of the EPF Scheme as per the provisions under Para 60 of EPF Scheme, 1952.

Chennai Municipal Corporation has revised the professional tax for the year 2018 – 19 and this revised slabs has to be remitted to the corporation once in six months (i.e. 30th  September 2018 and 31st Mar 2019) since this revised rates are applicable from 1st of April 2018 onwards.

The Ministry of Labour and Employment Department in consultation with central board has revised the administrative charges from 0.65% to 0.50% with effect from 1st June, 2018 under Employees Provident Funds Scheme.

Haryana State has revised the Minimum Wages for category of employees covered under, ”Haryana Shops and Establishment Act” and this is effective from 01^st January, 2018.

The Labour Department of Delhi by way of a notification dated 9^th August, 2017 has issued the draft Minimum Wages (Delhi) Amendment Act, 2017.

Orissa State has revised the Minimum Wages for the category of employees covered under, ”Orissa Shops and Establishment Act” and this is effective from 01^st April, 2018.

Karnataka Labour Department declared that all Shops, Commercial Establishments, Factories and other Shops to be provided with Paid Leave on account of State Election which is on 12^th May 2018.

The Government of Punjab, Implemented The Punjab State Development Tax Act 2018, wherein the employers are liable to adhere to the provisions of this Act. For more details, please find the attached Regulatory Alert and Notification.

Please Note: The affiliated rules are still awaited from the concerned authority which will be published shortly.

As per EPFO circular dated 24th April 2018, the EPFO has intimated an amendment to the guidelines of Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Protsahan Yojana. As per the amendment to the guidelines, the Government of India will pay the full employer's contribution (EPF and EPS both) w.e.f. 1st April 2018 for a period of three years to the new employees and to the existing beneficiaries for their remaining period of three years through EPFO. The last date of registration of beneficiary through establishment is 31st March 2019. For more details, please find the attached Regulatory Alert and Notification.

Tamil Nadu Labour and Employment Department has amended rule 6 of sub rule 2 and 3 under Tamil Nadu Industrial Establishment (Conferment of Permanent Status to Workmen) Rules, 1981 and this amendment is effective from 18^th April 2018. 

As per the EPFO Circular dated 26^th March 2018, the EPFO has cited concerns of some employers in initial enrolment due to non-possession of Aadhar number. Thus, in order to avoid delay in remittance of contributions of new employees joining without possessing Aadhar number, PF department has decided to make available an additional route for allotment of UAN for enrolment as member of Employees Pension Scheme, 1995.

As per the notification dated 28^th February 2018, the Government of Tamil Nadu has amended The Tamil Nadu Factories Rules. The amendment now introduced the following features as,

• All Factory Licenses, Renewals, Amendments, Returns (Half yearly and Annual Returns) can be done through online. (https://dish.tn.gov.in/).
• The registration and renewal of the factory license can be made for ten years consecutively now from the earlier tenure of five years 
• Annual Return Form 22 has been amended with relevant changes.

Effective from 27th February 2018, EPFO mandates that in case the amount of claim settlement is above Rs.10 lacs for PF claims and Rs.5 lacs in respect of the EPS withdrawal claims, the claim form must be accepted through online mode only.

As per the notification dated 21^st February 2018, the Government of Tamil Nadu has amended The Tamil Nadu Labour Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Rules, 1975. The amendment now introduced the following features as,

•Principal Employers and Contractors can pay the statutory fees and application through Online (https://dish.tn.gov.in/).

•The fees towards registration, renewal and amendment of license has been enhanced

•The validity of license now being extended for a period of two consecutive years.

Via this notification,” As per EPFO circular dated 25th January 2018, that every employer in relation to a factory or other establishment to which the Employees' Provident Funds & Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 applies, shall furnish online/electronically in Form No. 5A, particulars of all branches and departments, owners, occupiers, Directors, Partners, Manager or any other person or persons who have the ultimate control over the affairs of such factory or establishment and also furnish details of changes in such particulars within 15 days of such change. E-sign facility has been provided to the employers for online submission of Form No. 5A. EPFO or PF Office has also stated that Offline/Physical submission of Form No. 5A stands discontinued. Details for online submission of Form No. 5A are available on the website of the EPFO (Employees' Provident Fund Organization). EPFO or PF Field offices have also been directed to not ask hard copies in case of submission of form 5A with digital/e-signatures by employers

Effective from 15th February 2018, Ministry of Labour and Employment has introduced minimum assurance benefit of Rs. 2.5lakhs and maximum of 6 lakhs under Employees Deposit Linked Insurance Scheme and this shall be in force for a period of two years from the date of this Notification.

ESIC vide circular dated 07^th February 2018, introduced an additional benefits to all Insured Women/ Insured Persons to choose two dispensary/IMP through an employer which includes one for self and one for their families. For further details please find the attached notification for your reference.

Notification on Tamilnadu Labour Welfare Fund (Amendment) Act, 2018

As per the notification dated 30^th Jan 2018 the Government of Tamil Nadu has amended The Tamil Nadu Labour Welfare Fund Act, 1972. The amendment now states that any person in a supervisory capacity drawing wages exceeding fifteen thousand rupees per mensem will be excluded from the coverage of the Act. This extends only to the state of Tamilnadu.

The report highlights interesting trends in terms of not only how compensation and benefits structures have evolved in India over last few decades but also how these vary from Industry to Industry ; how new age industry sectors differ from tradition industry sectors and what employees actually value.  The Age of Plain old salary increments is over and a radical compensation mix – comprising between 60% and 40% fixed-to-variable and between 38% and 85% intangible-to-tangible – is ushering in the Total Rewards era in India. As a critical component of Total Rewards, Flexi-benefits are fast gaining currency thanks to personalization, higher perceived value and better tax benefits. Sectors employing a bigger pool of mid-level professionals have a rationalized compensation and rewards structure, and hierarchical profiling shows up a sharp increase in variable pay higher up the hierarchy. While organizations are taking active measures to retain critical talent substantial mismatch between employee and employer expectations at both the talent acquisition and retention phases diminishes the economic value to both. Employers have an “attraction disconnects”, and “retention disconnect”; Employee carries liberal benefits expectations throughout the lifecycle and has substantially low satisfaction levels on compensation and benefits.