Workers' Rights
Employment protections under Indian central law — minimum wages, working hours, provident fund, gratuity, maternity benefits, and protection from unfair dismissal.
Minimum Wages
Every worker in India is entitled to at least the minimum wage applicable to their employment. The Code on Wages, 2019 — which consolidates the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 — requires the Central Governmen...
Working Hours and Overtime
Central law caps daily and weekly working hours for workers in factories and, under the new codes, for establishments more broadly.Factories: Maximum 9 hours per day and 48 hours per week (s. 51, 54,...
Employees' Provident Fund (EPF)
The EPF is India's mandatory retirement savings scheme for employees in the organised sector.Mandatory for establishments with 20 or more employees (and may voluntarily cover smaller ones).Contributio...
Employee State Insurance (ESI)
The ESI scheme provides health insurance and cash benefits to workers in the organised sector.Coverage: Employees earning up to ₹21,000/month (₹25,000 for persons with disabilities) in establishments...
Gratuity
Gratuity is a statutory terminal benefit payable by an employer to an employee who has completed at least five years of continuous service.Eligibility: Any employee (factory worker, plantation worker,...
Maternity Benefits
Female employees are entitled to paid maternity leave and related benefits under the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961.Paid leave: 26 weeks of fully paid maternity leave for the first two children; 12 weeks...
Protection from Unfair Dismissal
The Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 (IDA) provides significant protection against arbitrary termination for workers in the industrial sector.Retrenchment requirements (s. 25F): An employer retrenching a...
Sexual Harassment at the Workplace (POSH)
The POSH Act, 2013 provides every woman employee the right to work in an environment free from sexual harassment.Definition of sexual harassment includes unwelcome physical contact, sexual advances, r...