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October 2026
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LabourCode 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.
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Labour“Shram Samvad”: Labour Ministry’s 90-day outreach on the four Labour Codes reaches industrial clusters in Delhi, Haryana and Uttarakhand
316 districts, 90 daysThe Ministry of Labour & Employment held district-level Shram Samvad programmes at Haridwar, Naraina (New Delhi) and Sonipat on 1 October 2026. The campaign, launched on 28 September 2026, runs for 90 days across 316 districts to explain applicability and employer compliance under the new Labour Codes.
September 2026
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LabourEPFO answers employers’ questions on the ₹25,000 ceiling: one ECR for September 2026, contributions split at 17 September, no shift to 1 October
September ECR due 15 OctoberClarifiedEPFO’s FAQs on the revised wage ceiling tell employers to file a single ECR for September 2026, computing contributions separately for 1–16 September (₹15,000 ceiling) and 17–30 September (₹25,000 ceiling). The employee share that could not be deducted may be recovered in the next payroll, but the full remittance is still due by 15 October. The EDLI maximum stays at ₹7 lakh.
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LabourEPF 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.
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LabourPF 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.
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LabourEPFO’s VISHWAS, 2026: settle old PF damages at 0.25% to 1% a month — window closes 28 December 2026
28 December 2026ReliefThe one-time settlement scheme covers delayed PF contributions prior to 14 June 2024. EPFO says the closing date will not be extended.
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LabourPF Trusts without a formal exemption order can regularise under the EPF Scheme 2026 amnesty till 28 December 2026
PF Trust amnestyReliefThe one-time amnesty is for PF Trusts recognised under the Income-tax Act that have no exemption order under section 17 of the EPF & MP Act or section 143 of the Code on Social Security.
August 2026
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LabourCode 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.
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LabourShram Suvidha Portal: Labour Ministry may verify users through Aadhaar authentication, but only voluntarily — S.O. 4831(E) replaces the May 2026 notification
Aadhaar check is voluntaryNew facilityBy notification S.O. 4831(E) dated 24 August 2026, the Ministry of Labour and Employment has notified Aadhaar authentication for verifying user details for modules on the Shram Suvidha Portal. It is voluntary, uses only Yes/No and/or e-KYC authentication, needs the Aadhaar holder’s consent, and no service can be denied for refusing it. The notification supersedes S.O. 2523(E) of 15 May 2026.
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LabourEPFO Employees’ Enrolment Campaign, 2026 open till 31 October 2026: one-time window to enrol employees left out of EPF between 1 April 2009 and 31 March 2026
EEC 2026 closes 31 October 2026ReliefEPFO has urged establishments to use the Employees’ Enrolment Campaign, 2026, notified with effect from 29 June 2026 and open up to 31 October 2026. Employers can declare and enrol eligible employees who stayed outside EPF coverage between 1 April 2009 and 31 March 2026. The Campaign includes waiver of the employee’s share where it was not deducted earlier, subject to its conditions.
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