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 […]
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 […]
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 […]