The People Brief ·
The People Brief — November 2026
This month's issue tracks the state-level rollout of India's four Labour Codes, fresh moves from EPFO and ESIC, firming deadlines under the DPDP Act, and a revised central minimum wage. We close with EPFO's new WhatsApp self-service tool, a reminder that HR administration in India is going conversational.
01
Labour Codes: State Rules Race Toward the Centre's Deadline
The Labour Ministry pre-published draft central rules on 30 December 2025 and then notified final rules under all four Labour Codes on 8 May 2026 (Industrial Relations Rules G.S.R. 342(E), Wage Rules G.S.R. 343(E), Social Security Rules G.S.R. 344(E) and OSH Rules G.S.R. 345(E)). As of 28 October 2026, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh have notified final state rules under all four Codes, while Rajasthan has notified three of the four, with other states still catching up.
What to do: Track your operating states individually rather than waiting for a single national date — until a state notifies its own final rules, employers must keep following the Codes alongside any pre-existing state rules not yet displaced.
Source: India Labour Codes 2026: Employer Impact and State Rules02
Gratuity: One-Year Eligibility Risk for Fixed-Term Hires
India's gratuity framework changed materially from 21 November 2025, when the Labour Codes took effect: expiry of a fixed-term employment contract is now expressly recognised as an event triggering gratuity, alongside a revised statutory definition of wages used in gratuity calculations. A March 2026 Labour Ministry clarification states that for contract labour, the contractor is ordinarily liable for gratuity after five years of continuous service, while the pre-existing ₹20 lakh statutory ceiling (from a 2018 amendment) continues to apply and is not itself a new 2026 change.
What to do: Audit fixed-term contracts now — employees on such contracts can trigger gratuity liability well before the traditional five-year mark once their term expires.
Source: Latest Gratuity Rules 2026: Key Changes Explained03
ESIC Amnesty Scheme Extended to 31 December 2026
The Employees' State Insurance Corporation has extended its 'New Amnesty Scheme, 2025' by three months, from the original window of 1 October 2025–30 September 2026 to a new closing date of 31 December 2026, the Ministry of Labour & Employment announced on 29 October 2026. The scheme lets employers settle pending ESIC disputes — including cases over non-submission of records or delayed payments — through a structured out-of-court mechanism, with court-approved withdrawal of cases where compliance has since been completed.
What to do: Employers with unresolved ESIC show-cause notices or litigation should use the extended three-month window to settle before the revised 31 December 2026 deadline.
Source: ESIC extends New Amnesty Scheme till December 31, gives more time to settle pending cases04
DPDP Act: Employee Data Retention Clocks Start Ticking
The Digital Personal Data Protection Rules were notified on 13 November 2025, starting an 18-month staged commencement period for employers; a January 2026 proposal to shorten this to 12 months had still not been notified as of September 2026. Under the Rules, personal data, traffic data and processing logs must be kept for at least one year from processing starting 13 May 2027, while employee, wage, overtime and deductions registers must be retained for five years after the last entry under Rule 51(4) of the Code on Wages (Central) Rules, 2026 notified on 8 May 2026.
What to do: Map every HR and payroll system holding employee or candidate data now so retention schedules and consent/notice practices are aligned before the DPDP Act's staged provisions take full effect.
Source: DPDP Act for Employers Hiring in India: HR Compliance Guide05
Minimum Wages: Central Sphere VDA Revised for Oct 2026–Mar 2027
The Ministry of Labour & Employment notified revised Variable Dearness Allowance rates for Central Sphere establishments on 30 September 2026, effective from 1 October 2026 through March 2027. Under the revised construction and maintenance schedule, unskilled workers now earn ₹840/day in Area A, ₹704/day in Area B and ₹565/day in Area C, rising to ₹1,111/day in Area A for highly skilled workers.
What to do: Update payroll wage tables for central-sphere establishments immediately — and check state schedules that typically follow the central VDA cycle — to avoid underpayment exposure.
Source: Central Government Minimum Wages October 2026: VDA Revised06
HR Tech & Automation: EPFO Launches WhatsApp Self-Service for PF Accounts
On 1 November 2026, Union Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya launched a WhatsApp-based self-service facility at EPFO's 74th Foundation Day event, giving the organisation's more than 80 million subscribers the ability to check their PF balance, access passbook information and view their latest five transactions without visiting an EPFO office. The facility does not yet cover withdrawals or transfers, and the Ministry's announcement did not specify the WhatsApp number or the full activation process.
What to do: Expect fewer routine PF-balance queries from staff once the facility is activated, but keep communicating that withdrawals and transfers still require the existing EPFO portal or app.
Source: EPFO launches WhatsApp facility for PF balance, passbook and transactionsGet the next issue in your inbox
Compiled with AI-assisted research from the linked public sources. General information only, not legal, tax or statutory advice.