Regulatory updates

  1. The Building and Other Construction Workers’ (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996 (“BOCW Act”)

    Amendment to the Telangana Building and Other Construction Workers’ (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 1999 (in short “TG BOCW Rules”).

    Government of Telangana notified the amended TG BOCW Rules amending rule 27, wherein rule 27 prescribes fee for registration of establishment under the BOCV Act. As per the amended rule 27 registration fee to be paid in case of establishment employing up to 100 workers shall be Rs. 2000, for 100-500 workers fee shall be Rs. 10,000, if the number of workers exceeds 500 fees shall be Rs. Rs.10,000 + Rs.10,000 for every additional 500 workers or part thereof.

  2. The Chhattisgarh Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 2017 (in short "CG Shops Act")

    Appointed day of the CG Shops Act:

    The Government of Chhattisgarh notified the CG Shops Act and rules framed thereunder by notification dt. February 13, 2025.

  3. Amendment to the Telangana Building and Other Construction Workers’ (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 1999 (in short “TG BOCW Rules”).

    Government of Telangana notified the amended TG BOCW Rules amending rule 27. Rule 27 prescribes fee for registration of establishment under the BOCV Act. As per the amended rule 27 registration fee to be paid in case of establishment employing up to 100 workers shall be Rs. 2000, for 100-500 workers fee shall be Rs. 10,000, if the number of workers exceeds 500 fees shall be Rs. Rs.10,000 + Rs.10,000 for every additional 500 workers or part thereof.

  4. The Chhattisgarh Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 2017 (in short "CG Shops Act"). Appointed day of the CG Shops Act: The Government of Chhattisgarh notified the CG Shops Act and rules framed thereunder by notification dt. February 13, 2025.

  5. EPFO has dispensed with bank KYC approval by employer :

    Employees Provident Fund Organisation (in short “EPFO”) vide its circular (#WSU/IssuesofBKG/E-49885/2024-25/16) dt. April 03, 2025 made certain procedural changes in bank KYC approval. According to the circular, henceforth: a) Members are not required to upload the cancelled cheque leaf or attested bank pass book at the time of filing claim application. However, it is subject to the validation of bank account seeded with the UAN by the respective bank. b) There shall be no requirement of employer approval in bank account seeding process.

  6. Retrospective payment of contributions through Demand Draft instead of electronic mode in certain cases.

    EPFO vide its circular (# Compliance/DD/Remittances/M/SLabournet Services India Pvt. Ltd./2025/2209) dt. April 04, 2025 directed the field offices to accept the contributions for past period in demand draft form in case the employer is not able to remit the past dues through electronic challan cum return (ECR) mode. However, this option is restricted to the past dues and employer is required to give an undertaking for verification of beneficiaries if any claim arises in future.

  7. EPFO made UAN allotment and activation simpler.

    EPFO vide its circular (#WSU/Memberprofile/E- 710137/2025-269885/2024-25/17) dt. April 08, 2025 notified the facilities provided in Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance Application (“UMANG App”).

    According to the EPFO following features are provided in the UMANG App:

    a) Direct UAN allotment and activation;

    b) UAN activation for existing UANs; and

    c) Face authentication service for existing activated UANs.

    Members can avail this facility without the intervention of employer. By opting this facility members can access EPFO services such as pass book viewing, KYC updates, claim submission etc.

  8. Simplification of transfer claim process – overlapping of service

    EPFO in its circular (# WSU/Transferclaim/E-52972/2025-2026/07) dt. May 20, 2025 issues directions to the field office in settlement of transfer claims having over lapping of service. As per the circular transfer claims where there is an over lapping of service due to genuine reasons shall not be disqualified. Source office can seek clarification for overlapping service if there is a genuine need and claims would be processed after obtaining the requisite clarification.

  9. Declaration of rate of interest for the year 2024-2025

    EPFO in its circular (#INV-11/2/2021-INV/3557) dt. May 26, 2025 notified the approval of the Central Government to credit interest of 8.25% for the year 2024-2025 to each member of the EPF Scheme u/p 60 of the EPF Scheme, 1952.

  10. Amendments to TN S&D Act

    The Government of Tamil Nadu vide GO dt. June 6, 2025 notified the Tamil Nadu Shops and Establishment (Amendment) Act. 2025 (in short “Amended Act”). As per the Amended Act ‘Chapter IX’ comprising penalties and compounding of offences substituted with the following sections (Sec 45), Compounding of offences (Sec 46), Adjudicating officer (Sec 46-A) and Appeal (Sec 46-B) and Recovery (46-C).

    According to the Amended Act penalty for contravention of Sec 41 -A (Payment of full wages to person employed pending proceedings in Higher Courts) may be extended to rupees fifty thousand, in case of continuing offence two hundred for every day and aggregate penalty shall not exceed rupees one lakh. Punishment by the way of imprisonment has been done away with under the Amended Act.

  11. Opening of establishments for 365 days in Punjab

    The Government of Punjab vide its notification dt. June 17, 2025 notified that all the establishments registered under the Punjab S&D Act shall be permitted to open all 365 days in a year subjected to certain conditions. The notification will be in force for one year from the date of publication.