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Importance & Applicability Of Labour Laws for Startups

Written By

Darshana Chauhan

nishant.s@treelife.in

Published on

April 27,
2023

Last updated on

August 20, 2024
21:41

Blog Content Overview

1 State Specific Labour Laws applicable to Start-ups
2 State Specific Labour Laws applicable to Start-ups

Currently in India there are 29 labour laws which needs to be followed by all the entities. To make it more streamlined and hassle free the Ministry of Labour is under the process of consolidating all the labour laws under 4 new labour law codes (“Labour Codes”)

•Code on Wages

•Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code

•Social Security Code

•Industrial Relations Code

These Labour Codes are yet to be notified.

In India, the labour laws can be divided into compliance under central laws and the specific state laws.

We have compiled a list of central laws and examples of specific state laws herein.

Sr. No	Labour Laws	Applicability	Registration/ Implementation	Penalty for non-compliance with the applicable laws
1	Employee’s State Insurance Act, (ESI Act 1948)	a) Working with the aid of power- 10 or more employees b) Without the aid of power- 20 or more employees	Section 2-A of the Act read with Regulation 10-B, registration within 15 days from the date of its applicability to them	Imprisonment for a period extending up to 2 years and a fine of up to INR 5,000.
2	Prevention of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention Prohibition and Redressal Act, 2013) (“POSH Act”)	Applicable to all organizations, however the formation of an internal committee is applicable when there are 10 or more employees	The company has to elect an internal committee and pass a board resolution for adopting the internal committee as per the provisions of POSH Act	A fine of INR 50,000
3	Maternity Benefit Act, 1961	Any organization with 10 or more employees	No registration required. However, an organization needs to maintain a muster roll. An organization is required to provide for first and second-time mothers, a leave of 6 months, or 26 weeks, off, which is a paid leave wherein her employer needs to pay her in full.	Imprisonment which may extend to 3 months, or with fine which may extend to INR 500, or with both.
4	Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972	Any organization with 10 or more employees	Form A to be filed within 30 days of registration	punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees or with both
5	Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016	Any organization with 20 or more employees	a) Form E for registration under Rule 27(3). b) Organization needs to appoint a grievance officer as a compliance	Imprisonment up to 6 months and/ or a fine of INR 10,000, or both
6	Equal Remuneration Act, 1976	No minimum applicability	Form D- Register to be maintained by the employer	Penalty levied may be up to INR 10,000
7	Payment of Bonus Act, 1965	Any organization with 20 or more employees	In case of new establishments, for the first 5 years, bonus is payable only if the business is profitable.	Imprisonment for six months or may impose a fine of INR. 1000 or both
8	The Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952	Any organization with 20 or more employees	Form 5 to be filled by employers for enrolling new employees for this scheme	For delay in payment of PF- a)For 0 — 2 months delay – @ 5 % p.a. b)For 2 — 4 months delay – @10 % p.a. c)For 4 — 6 months delay – @ 15 % p.a. d)For delay above 6 months – @ 25 % p.a. (subject to a maximum of 100%)

List of Central Labour Laws applicable to Start-ups

State Specific Labour Laws applicable to Start-ups

Types Of Applicable Legislations For Specific States:

•State-specific shops and establishment acts

•State-specific labour welfare acts

•State-specific professional tax acts

STATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND KARNATAKA COVERED HEREIN

State Specific Labour Laws applicable to Start-ups

A. For Maharashtra

Sr. No	Labour Laws	Applicability	Registration/ Implementation	Penalty for non-compliance with the applicable laws
1	Maharashtra Shops and Establishment Act, 1948	Applicable to all organizations. Any organization with 10 or more employees needs to register.	Form A to be filed for registration	Fine which shall be not less than INR 1,000 but which may extend to INR 3,000 along with the prescribed registration or renewal Fee
2	Maharashtra Labour Welfare Fund Act, 1953	Any organization with 05 or more employees	Form A to be filed for registration	A fine of INR 500 and/or imprisonment up to 3 months
3	The Maharashtra State Tax on Profession, Trades, Callings and Employments Act, 1975	Applicable to all organizations/ establishments	Form I-I and I-II to be filled for enrollment	Employer will be liable to pay a simple interest @ 1.25% of the tax payable for each month for which the tax remains unpaid.

Maharashtra Labour Laws applicable to Start-ups

B. For Karnataka

Sr. No	Labour Laws	Applicability	Registration/ Implementation	Penalty for non-compliance with the applicable laws
1	Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1961	Applicable to all. Organizations with 10 or more employees have to register	Registration of establishment in Form B	punishable with fine up to INR 1,000 and in case of a continuing contravention, a further fine of up to INR 2,000 for every day during which such contravention continues
2	The Karnataka Tax on Professions, Trades, Callings And Employment Act, 1976	Applicable to all person working in Karnataka	Registration of establishment under Sec 5	Penalty not exceeding fifty per cent of the amount of tax due. This penalty shall be in addition to the interest payable under sub-section (2) or (3) of section 11.