How Multi-State Foreign Companies Navigate Incomplete State Labour Code Rules in October 2026
India’s four Labour Codes are in force, but state labour code rules in India are still being finalised, so the same employer can face different procedures in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Rajasthan. This affects MNC subsidiaries, global startups, overseas investors and NRI-promoted businesses alike, whether they entered through company formation in India or expanded later. Startup […]
International Workers under EPF Scheme 2026: Special Rules for Foreign Employees in Indian Subsidiaries
This is the central question around International Workers under EPF Scheme 2026. It matters to foreign parent companies, global startups, MNCs, NRIs returning on foreign payrolls, and investors who fund Indian entities. The Employees’ Provident Funds Scheme, 2026 came into force on 1 July 2026 under the Code on Social Security, 2020. It keeps a […]
MCA Latest FAQs on Foreign Companies – FC-1, FC-3 and FC-4 Compliance Clarified (October 2026)
FC-1 FC-3 FC-4 compliance is now easier to understand for overseas businesses, following the FAQs the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) published in August 2026 on foreign company registration. A foreign company that opens a branch, liaison or project office in India often assumes that registering once is enough. In practice, registration is only the […]
How Foreign-Owned Companies Should Handle Split-Period PF Contributions for September 2026 Wages
Split-period PF contributions became a live payroll issue because the EPF wage ceiling rose from ₹15,000 to ₹25,000 on 17 September 2026, in the middle of a wage month. For foreign-owned companies, overseas parent entities, NRI-led businesses and global startups with Indian payroll, September 2026 is not a routine repeat of August. A wrong calculation […]
EPFO Extends September 2026 ECR Due Date to 31 October – What Foreign Subsidiaries Must File Now
The EPFO ECR due date September 2026 has moved from 15 October to 31 October 2026. If your Indian subsidiary, branch office or startup missed the original date, you have a short window to correct payroll and file. The extension follows the mid-month rise in the EPF wage ceiling, and it affects Indian employers, foreign-owned […]
Cost of Non-Compliance with New Labour Codes for Foreign Subsidiaries: Penalty Risks in Q4 2026
Non-compliance with new labour codes is now a boardroom risk for every foreign subsidiary operating in India. All four Labour Codes have been in force since 21 November 2025, replacing 29 central laws. The central rules were notified on 8 May 2026. The first anniversary of implementation falls in Q4 2026, along with year-end payroll […]
How Foreign Founders Should Update Nomination Details for PF and Gratuity Accounts in 2026
You moved to India to build a business. You draw a salary from your Indian company and PF, and a UAN was created for you. But who receives your provident fund and gratuity if something happens to you? For many founders the answer is an outdated record, or no record at all. A correct PF […]
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 […]