Single Registration and Licence Under Labour Codes: Practical Steps for Newly Set Up Foreign Companies (2026)
Hiring your first employees in India used to mean several registrations under different labour laws. The single registration and licence under labour codes changes that. Since the four Labour Codes came into force on 21 November 2025, new foreign-owned entities must understand one unified system. This matters to foreign companies, NRIs, global startups, overseas investors […]
How to Handle Gig and Platform Worker Social Security Contributions if Your Indian Subsidiary Uses Contractors (2026)
Gig and platform worker social security contributions are now a live compliance question for any Indian subsidiary that engages delivery partners, drivers, field agents, or on-demand specialists as contractors. Foreign parent companies, NRI founders, global startups, and overseas investors often assume that a contractor label ends the obligation. Under India’s labour code reforms, that assumption […]
Fixed-Term Employment Contracts for Foreign Subsidiaries: Gratuity After One Year Rule Explained (2026)
Fixed-Term Employment Contracts : Can a foreign subsidiary hire staff on short contracts in India without paying gratuity? Until recently, the answer was usually yes. The Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 required five years of continuous service, so contract staff almost never qualified. That has changed. Fixed-term employment contracts now carry a pro-rata gratuity entitlement […]
Tax Audit Deadline Extended to 21 October 2026: What It Means for Foreign-Owned Companies
The tax audit deadline extended to 21 October 2026 gives audit-case taxpayers a short window, but many foreign-owned companies are unsure whether it applies to them. On 28 September 2026, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) moved the date for furnishing the tax audit report for Assessment Year (AY) 2026-27 from 30 September to […]
MCA FAQs on Foreign Companies Having Place of Business in India: Key Clarifications, October 2026
Does your overseas company have a project site, an employee, or a representative operating in India? If so, you may already be a “foreign company” under Indian law. Foreign companies having place of business in India must register with the Registrar of Companies (RoC) and keep up annual filings. This applies whether the presence is […]
Impact of 50% Wage Definition Rule on Gratuity Provisions in Foreign-Owned Indian Companies 2026
The 50% wage definition rule has changed how every employer in India calculates gratuity, and foreign-owned companies feel the effect most. Many were built on structures where basic pay is only 30–40% of total pay. Under the new labour codes, that structure no longer works for gratuity. If you run an Indian subsidiary, a branch […]
How to Issue Appointment Letters Under New Labour Codes for Employees of Foreign Subsidiaries (2026)
Appointment Letters Under New Labour Codes : A foreign parent company hires a team in Bengaluru using its global offer-letter template. Months later, an audit finds the letter says nothing about wage components, gratuity or notice period. Under India’s consolidated labour framework, that gap can become a compliance issue. Issuing appointment letters under new labour […]
State-Wise Variation in Labour Code Rules: Compliance Risks for Multi-State Foreign Companies in October 2026
Labour code rules in India are now the single biggest compliance variable for foreign companies running offices, plants or teams in more than one state. The four Labour Codes took effect in November 2025, and the Centre notified its rules in May 2026. Labour is a Concurrent List subject, so each state must frame its […]
Employees’ Enrolment Campaign 2026 Ending 31 October – What Foreign-Owned Companies Must Do Before the Deadline
The Employees’ Enrolment Campaign 2026 closes on 31 October 2026, and foreign-owned companies in India have only a few weeks left to act. If your Indian subsidiary, branch office or joint venture ever missed enrolling an eligible employee in the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF), this is a rare chance to regularise those records on relaxed […]
How Foreign Subsidiaries Must Recompute PF Contributions After the EPF Wage Ceiling Hike to ₹25,000 (October 2026 Payroll Best Guide)
The EPF wage ceiling hike from ₹15,000 to ₹25,000, effective 17 September 2026, forces every foreign-owned Indian subsidiary to rebuild its payroll logic before the October 2026 cycle. A single outdated payroll setting can create under-deduction, interest and a compliance notice. This guide is for Indian companies, MNC subsidiaries, NRIs who run Indian entities, global […]