Compliance News February 2024

ESIC

• Field offices were advised to upload the data on defaulting Employers on the ESIC website, vide F.No. P-11/12/Misc./1/2019-Rev II.

• ESIC approved enhancement in the rate of PDB/DB due to inflation with effective 01^st August 2022, in the cases where the employment injury resulting in disablement or death occurred on or before 31^st December 2021 as per vide circular no. R-12/16/9/2012-Policy-BFT-II dated 12^th February 2024.

• ESIC issued an office letter R-14013/13/2012-Bft dated 12^th February 2024, regarding claim request to be Insurance women to claim online Maternity Benefit claims in the absence of UAN.
• ESIC issued an extra-ordinary gazette notification vide No. R-12/16/9/2022-Policy-BFT-II on enhancement of PDB/DB benefits with effect from 01^st August 2022.

Building and other Construction Workers

• The Government of Gujarat issued an order, the use of Aadhaar as an Identity document for delivery of services or benefits of
  • Educational Assistance Program (No. GR/2024/20/CWA/132016/643493/M3)
  • Special Coaching class Scheme (GR/2024/21/CWA/132016/643493/M3)
  • Mukhyamantri Bhagyalaxmi bod Scheme (No. GR/2024/22/CWA/132016/643493/M3).

 The above benefits being implemented by the Gujarat building and other construction workers welfare Board.

The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013

• The Government Amends the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 through Extra ordinary Gazattee notification vide No. CG-DL-E-07022024-251887, dated 2^nd February 2024, Sec 9 and Sec 10, basic limitation period for filing complaints shall be fixed at one year is substituted in place of 3 months.
• Aggrieved woman with the option of settling the complaint through conciliation – Omitted.

EPF

• The Government of India notified the Social Security Agreement (SSA) signed between Federative Republic of Brazil and the Government of India, as per vide no. IWU-1109/1/2020-IWU/Brazil/E-File (621352)/4763 dated 13^th February 2024.
• EPFO issued a circular, vide circular No. BKG/1/2021-BKG/C-32521/263 dated 08^th February 2024, restriction on deposits and credit transaction in Paytm Payment Bank Account.
• EPFO published joint Declaration Manual

Shop and Establishment Act

• The Government of Gujarat declares Sec -12 (Fixing of hours of work) , Sec-14(Spread over of Hours of work) will not be applicable of IT services, IT enabled services and Financial services subject to fulfilment of other provisions of said Act for the period of 2 years from the date of notification as per vide notification no. GHR/2024/19/LED/TGS/e-file/11/2023/2453/M3 dated 09^th February 2024.

Minimum Wages

• The Government of Assam issued a notification on increase in VDA shall come to retrospective effect from 01^st July 2023 to 31^st December 2023. This is applicable for the workman employed by and through contractors mentioned below in respect of case which are not covered under Minimum Wages Act, 1948 and where the workman employed by the contractors do not perform the same or similar nature of work as done by workers, directly employed by the Principal Employers of the establishment.
• The Government of Assam issued a notification on VDA increase shall be payable to the employees/workers engaged in Private security house in the state of Assam with effective from 1^st July 2023.
• The Government of Uttarakhand issued a notification on Minimum wages for Engineering Industry
• The following Governments issued a notification on increase in minimum wages/DA
  • Madhya Pradesh
  • Orissa
  • Chandigarh
  • Tamilnadu
  • Karnataka
  • Hariyana 
  • Kerala

Others

• The Karnataka Government notified as per notification no. NO: DPAL 01 SHASANA 2024, DATED:26.02.2024, The name boards of Commercial, Industrial and Business Undertakings, Trusts, Counseling Centre’s, Hospitals, Laboratories, Amusement Centers and Hotels etc., functioning with the approval and sanction of the Government or Local Authorities, shall ensure that their name board displays 60% in Kannada language and Kannada shall be displayed in the upper half of the name board