Employment Law

Decoding India’s Labour Codes: Strategic Insights for M&A Transactions

Summary: India’s consolidation of 29 central labour laws into four Labour Codes marks a landmark transformation of the country’s regulatory landscape, with far-reaching implications for M&A transactions. The introduction of Labour Codes is not just a compliance issue, but one that actively impacts deal making. While the Labour Codes promise a more streamlined compliance framework in the long term, the current transitional phase — where central rules remain unfinalised and most states are yet to implement the Labour Codes — introduces significant near-term complexity for dealmakers. In this blog, we aim to highlight some of these considerations, including on valuation impact, penalty enhancements and heightened due diligence requirements. This blog also serves as a summary of ongoing considerations for transactions in light of the new Labour Codes.Continue Reading Decoding India’s Labour Codes: Strategic Insights for M&A Transactions

Director’s Liability under the Labour Codes

Summary: The Labour Codes provide for a more uniform framework for director liability, harmonising the previously fragmented provisions under the erstwhile labour statutes. We have evaluated director liability under the Labour Codes, how the Courts have historically determined director liability, and outlined key safeguards and risk mitigation measures for organisations.Continue Reading Director’s Liability under the Labour Codes

Karnataka High Court rules cab-aggregator drivers are employees under POSH Act: Broader implications for gig workers in India

In a significant legal development,the Karnataka High Court (“HC”) inMs. X v. ANI Technologies Private Limited (“Respondent“) and Others[1] inter alia held that the driver-subscribers of the Respondent were its ‘employees’ for the purposes of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (“POSH Act”), and hence, the Respondent was in violation of the POSH Act for not taking any action against a driver-subscriber despite several attempts of the aggrieved customer to seek redressal (“Petitioner”). The writ petition was filed by the Petitioner, pursuant to inaction on the part of the Respondent and the internal committee (“IC”) constituted by it under the POSH Act, to consider the Petitioner’s request to inquire into her complaint of sexual harassment on the grounds that the IC lacked jurisdiction to do so as the said accused driver was not an ‘employee’ of the Respondent, but an independent contractor.Continue Reading Karnataka High Court rules cab-aggregator drivers are employees under POSH Act: Broader implications for gig workers in India

Maternity Benefits Granted Beyond the Contractual Term in Fixed Term Contracts

In August 2023, in Dr. Kavita Yadav v. The Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Department and Ors. (“Kavita Yadav Case”),[1] the Supreme Court of India (“Supreme Court”) overruled the High Court of Delhi’s (“Delhi HC”) decision from 2019 in the same case (“Kavita Yadav Delhi HC Decision”) to hold that fixed-term employees would be entitled to full maternity benefits under Section 5 of the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 (“Maternity Benefit Act”), even after the expiry of their contractual term.   Continue Reading Maternity Benefits Granted Beyond the Contractual Term in Fixed Term Contracts

Employer safeguards in the wake of ‘Loud Quitting’

In the ever-evolving landscape of professional dynamics, a recent trend has emerged where employees have been publicly expressing their dissatisfaction and grievances with their employers after resigning from their jobs, often through social media platforms. This phenomenon has been termed as ‘loud quitting’. This practice marks a stark shift from the previous subtle ways that employees chose to express dissatisfaction about their work environments. Continue Reading Employer safeguards in the wake of ‘Loud Quitting’

Moonlighting

Introduction

Moonlighting is the colloquial term used to refer to the practice of employees working a second job, in addition to their primary job. The last few weeks saw myriad news reports on this practice in start-ups and the IT/ITES industry. Most companies have released statements opposing the practice and some have even taken action against moonlighting employees. Some companies have, however, indicated that they are open to allowing employees to moonlight within a defined framework.Continue Reading Moonlighting – Legal Considerations and Contractual Regulation

Legal Framework and Mitigating Risks Associated with Employee Downsizing in India SMM

Over the past couple of months, India Inc. has seen a spurt in employee downsizing, loosely termed as layoff. The impact is felt more prominently in the start-up sector where, in the face of reduced funding, there has been a significant cutback in the number of employees. The downsizing is done in a bid to save costs associated with employee expenses and to increase business profits.
Continue Reading Legal Framework and Mitigating Risks Associated with Employee Downsizing in India

EPFO tightens norms around Provident Fund inquiries under Section 7A

The Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has recently issued Guidelines for Initiation of Inquiries under Section 7A (“Guidelines”) of the Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 (“EPF Act”)[1]. Section 7A is the provision under which PF commissioners (who are vested with the powers of a civil court), can initiate an inquiry, by order, to determine (i) the applicability of the EPF Act to an establishment in case of a dispute; and (ii) to determine amounts due from any employer under the EPF Act and its schemes.

The EPFO has recognised that currently, assessing officers are following different yardsticks for initiating inquiries under Section 7A, which often leads to inquiries being initiated for wholly insufficient and untenable grounds, causing general resentment among the employers on one hand and prolonged pendency of inquiries on the other. The Guidelines have been issued to prevent such deleterious effect.
Continue Reading EPFO tightens norms around Provident Fund inquiries under Section 7A

The Maternity Leave Incentive Scheme, 2018 for working women in India

The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 (MB Act) was amended in 2017 (Amendment), to enhance/ increase the maternity leave period to 26 weeks from the previous 12, for a woman employee, for the first two children. This blog follows on from our previous posts wherein we discussed the obligations under the Amendment that were solely applicable to an employer. Read our previous post here.

Since the Amendment was aimed to ensure the health of women employees pursuant to giving birth, and to also ensure safety of the new born child, it appeared to be a positive development for women employees in the private sector. However, the implementation of the Amendment has been inadequate and ineffective.
Continue Reading The Maternity Leave Incentive Scheme, 2018: Blessing in the Pipeline for Working Women in India

Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (Protection and Control) Act, 2017

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (Protection and Control) Act, 2017 (the Act) was enacted on September 10, 2018.

The Act was introduced since India is a signatory to the United Nations’ Declaration of Commitment on Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, 2001.

The Act provides for the prevention, control and protection of human rights of persons affected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Continue Reading Introduction to the Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (Protection and Control) Act, 2017