LatestCorporate Compliance 17 October 2026
EPFO Wage Ceiling Rises, Courts Halt Wage Freeze, Maternity Leave Righted
The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation has lifted the statutory wage ceiling to ₹25,000 per month, while the Employees' Pension Scheme keeps its ceiling at ₹15,000, creating a regulatory mismatch. EPFO also extended the ECR filing deadline for September 2026. Meanwhile, Karnataka’s High Court paused a wage‑freeze circular for urban bodies, and Rajasthan’s High Court affirmed maternity leave as a fundamental right.
- EPFO wage ceiling: Increased from ₹15,000 to ₹25,000 per month for the 2026‑27 period. Details and filing examples are in the Staff News article.
- Employees' Pension Scheme (EPS): Still caps the wage ceiling at ₹15,000, effective from 17 September 2026. See the full amendment on SCC Online.
- EPFO ECR deadline extension: The organization announced a new filing deadline for September 2026 employers. Full notice available at Jagran Josh.
- Karnataka High Court: Stays a circular that would freeze wages for urban local bodies, keeping the old minimum wage structure in place. Read more at Urban Acres.
- Rajasthan High Court: Declares maternity leave a right to motherhood under Rule 103 of the Rajasthan Service Rules. Full ruling at BW People.
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