siliconindia | | DECEMBER 20259(capped at 5% of amount paid to the worker) into a social security fund. This will finance life & disability insurance, health benefits, maternity benefits, and old-age protection for millions who were earlier invisible.Here Are The 12 Game-Changing Rules Everyone Must Know Right Now· National Floor Wage: No state can fix minimum wages below the Centre's floor level. Universal minimum wage for the first time.· No Gender Discrimination: Same work, same wage legally enforceable.· Free Annual Health Check-up: Mandatory for every employee above 45 (some drafts say 40).· Work-From-Home Formalised: Allowed in service sectors by mutual agreement.· Women Night Shifts Legalised: With consent and strict safety protocols (transport, CCTV, etc.).· Overtime Pay Doubled: Minimum 2× normal rate, no more compensatory off loopholes.· Annual Leave After 180 Days: Earlier it was 240 days.· Appointment Letter Mandatory: Even for unorganised-sector workers.· Commuting Accidents Covered: Accident while travelling to/from work now counts as employment injury.· Layoff Threshold Raised: Factories with up to 300 workers can lay off without government permission (earlier 100).· One Nation, One License: Contract labour licence valid across India for five years.· Strike Notice Mandatory: 14 days' notice even for mass casual leave.· The Political Masterstroke No One is Talking AboutBy forcing higher PF and gratuity, the government is creating a massive pool of long-term domestic savings exactly what India needs to reduce dependence on volatile FII money.EPFO already manages Rs 23 lakh crore, this reform could easily add another Rs 2-3 lakh crore annually.What Do We Need to Do Before March 2026 ?· Ask HR for your revised salary structure (most companies will roll it out with April 2026 appraisals).· Recalculate tax liability, you may fall into a higher tax bracket.· If take-home drop is severe, negotiate a CTC hike or voluntary top-up into VPF/NPS to maintain cash flow.· Update nomination details in EPF, higher corpus means family security matters more.Wrapping It Up!November 21, 2025, is not just another date. It is the day India decided that its workers deserve richer retirements even if it means thinner wallets today. The era of maximise take-home, minimise future security is officially over.Your salary slip will never look the same again.
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