EPFO

EPFO Higher Pension: The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), vide Circular No. Pension/POHW/2023/69114/615, introduced the facility to delete an application made for validation of Option/Joint Option. Please refer to the attached circular for more information.

EPFO Higher Pension: EPFO Extends due date for applying for Higher Pension: Ministry of Labour & Employment through a press note has extended the timeline till 26th June 2023 to facilitate the eligible employees to apply for higher pension. Please refer to the attached press note for more information.

EPFO Higher Pension: Ministry of Labour & Employment, vide Gazette Notification dated 04th May 2023, held the requirement of the members to contribute at the rate of 1.16 per cent. of their salary to the extent such salary exceeds fifteen thousand rupees per month as an additional contribution under the provisions of sub-paragraph (4) of paragraph 11 of the Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995.

Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-clause (i) of clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 16 of the Code on Social Security, 2020 (36 of 2020), the Central Government hereby notifies the following,

namely:-

(i) in respect of members who have exercised joint option for contributing under the provisions of paragraph 11 of the Employees’ Pension Scheme, 1995 and who are found eligible, the employer’s contribution shall be nine and forty-ninth per cent. (9.49%) of the basic wages, dearness allowance and retaining allowance of each member by increasing one and sixteenth per cent. (1.16%) from the extant eight and one-third per cent. (8.33%); and

(ii) the increased contribution shall be applicable to basic wages, dearness allowance and retaining allowance to the extent such basic wages, dearness allowance and retaining allowance exceed fifteen thousand rupees per month.

This notification shall be deemed to have come into force on the 1st day of September, 2014.

ESIC

ESIC, vide Notification S.O. 1875(E), implemented the provisions towards Chapter IV (Contribution), Chapter V (Benefits), and Chapter VI (Adjudication of Disputes and Claims) of The Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948 (ESI Act) effective from 1st May 2023, in Kavaratti, Agatti and Minicoy Islands of Lakshadweep.

ESIC, vide Circular No. F. No. I-21013/l/2022/ICT, released guidelines for an employer to seed Aadhaar Number of an employee during the process of registrations.

Professional Tax

West Bengal: Government of West Bengal, Directorate of Commercial Taxes has extended the PT online return submission date till 31st May 2023 and paper form submission date extended till 7th June 2023. Refer to the attached notification dated 27.04.2023 for more information.

Minimum wages

  1. The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi, vide Notification No. F.No.(142)/02/MW/VIII/Part File/429-443 dated 20.04.2023, revised the VDA effective from 1st April 2023 to 30th Sep 2023. Refer to the attached notification for more information.
  2. The Government of Haryana, vide Notification No. IR/2/2023/9838-9968 dated 26.04.2023, released revised VDA rates for the state applicable from 1st January 2023 to 30th June 2023. Refer to the attached notification for more information.
  3. The Government of Bihar, vide Notification No. 5/M.W.-40-16/2021 L&R-1687 dated 31.03.2023, revised the VDA effective from 1st April 2023 to 30th Sep 2023. Refer to the attached notification for more information.
  4. The Government of Punjab vide notification No. ST/4313 dated 18.04.2023, has released the Minimum Wages for the state applicable from 1st March 2023 to 31st August 2023. Refer to the attached notification for more information.
  5. The Government of Telangana has released the updated CPI points that are to be used in calculating the variable dearness allowance. These rates are effective 1st April 2023 to 30th September 2023. Refer to the press note for more information.
  6. The Government of Jharkhand, vide Notification No.2/MW-2071/20210, L&T684 dated 10.04.2023, revised the VDA effective from 1st April 2023 to 30th Sep 2023. Refer to the attached notification for more information.
  7. The Government of Odisha, vide Notification No.2500/LC, Bhubaneswar, dated 05.04.2023, revised the VDA effective from 1st April 2023 to 30th Sep 2023. Refer to the attached notification for more information.
  8. The Government of India, vide Notification F. No. 1/5(1)/2023-LS-ll, released Minimum Wages for various categories including construction or maintenance of roads or runways or in building operations, effective from 1st April 2023. Refer to the attached notification for more information.
  9. The Government of Uttar Pradesh, vide Notification No. 02-09/Pravartan-(M.W.)/15, declared minimum wages effective from 1st April 2023 till 30th September 2023. Refer to the attached notification for more information.

Paid Holiday for General Election:

Karnataka: Office of Chief Electoral Officer, Karnataka, vide Notification No. DPAR 105 CHUVISA 20223 (P-1) dated 24.04.2023, declared paid leave for eligible employees, on 10th May 2023, on account of assembly election in the State of Karnataka. Refer to the attached notification for more information.

Himachal Pradesh: The Government of Himachal Pradesh, vide Notification No. 1-18/85(Fac) Lab-Vol-II, declared paid holiday on 10th May 2023, for eligible employees employed in factories, industrial establishments, shops and commercial establishments, on account of bye election in 04-Jalanddhar (SC) Parliamentary Constituency of Punjab. Refer to the attached notification for more information.