Brief on Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Act, 2018

Brief on Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Act, 2018

” Representatives are requesting to this Ministry that the effective date of Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Act, 2018 will 01.01.2016 instead of 29.03.2018 at par with the Central Government employees’

1. The Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2018 has been passed the 14th Sabba Sabha on 15.03.2018 and 22.03.2018 respectively and assented to by the Hon’ble President on 28th March, 2018.

2. The Government vide notification No.1420(E) dated 29th March, 2018 has enhanced the gratuity ceiling under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 from Rs.10 lakh to Rs.20 Lakh with effect from 29th March, 2018.

3. A Large number of representations have been received in this Ministry from the Unions/Organizations/Individuals physically, through Social Media (Facehook/Twitter etc.) and PG Portal whereby the representatives are requesting to this Ministry that the effective date of Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Act, 2018 will 01.01.2016 instead of 29.03.2018 at par with the Central Government employees’

4. In this regard, it is infirmed that on earlier occasions also, the enhancement in gratuity ceiling under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 has been implemented with prospceiive date only. Further, implementation of the same with effect will be administratively difficult and employers may not have sufficient liquidity to meet the arrears liabilities.

Payment Of Gratuity Inforced On 29th March, 2018

Gratuity ceiling raised to 20 Lakhs w.e.f. 29.3.2018

Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Act, 2018 brought in force on 29th March, 2018

Decision:The Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2018 has been passed by Lok Sabha on 15th March, 2018 and by the Rajya Sabha on 22nd March, 2018, has been brought in force on 29th March, 2018.

Background: The Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 applies to establishments employing 10 or more persons. The main purpose for enacting this Act is to provide social security to workman after retirement, whether retirement is a result of superannuation, or physical disablement or impairment of vital part of the body. Therefore, the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 is an important social security legislation to wage earning population in industries, factories and establishments.

2. The present upper ceiling on gratuity amount under the Act is Rs. 10 Lakh. The provisions for Central Government employees under Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 with regard to gratuity are also similar. Before implementation of 7th Central Pay Commission, the ceiling under CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 was Rs. 10 Lakh. However, with implementation of 7th Central Pay Commission, in case of Government servants, the ceiling has been raised to Rs. 20 Lakhs.

3. Therefore, considering the inflation and wage increase even in case of employees engaged in private sector, this Government decided that the entitlement of gratuity should also be revised in respect of employees who are covered under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972. Accordingly, the Government initiated the process for amendment to Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 to increase the maximum limit of gratuity to such amount as may be notified by the Central Government from time to time. Now, the Government has issued the notification specifying the maximum limit to Rs. 20 Lakh.

4. In addition, the Bill also envisages to amend the provisions relating to calculation of continuous service for the purpose of gratuity in case of female employees who are on maternity leave from ‘twelve weeks’ to ‘such period as may be notified by the Central Government from time to time’. This period has also been notified as twenty six weeks.

Major Impact: The Bill as passed by both the Houses of Parliament, andassented to by the Hon’ble President and notified by the Government. This will ensure harmony amongst employees in the private sector and in Public Sector Undertakings/ Autonomous Organizations under Government who are not covered under CCS (Pension) Rules. These employees will be entitled to receive higher amount of gratuity at par with their counterparts in Government sector.

Source: PIB

Gratuity Ceiling Amendment Notifications On Government Gazette

Gazette Notification on Gratuity: Amount, Effective Date and Maternity Leave

“Gratuity Ceiling Amendment Notifications issued by Government of India regarding Upper limit of Gratuity Payment, Date on which come into force and Maximum Period of Maternity Leave…

MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

NOTIFICATION

New Delhi, the 29th March, 2018

S.O. 1419(E).—In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (2) of section 1 of the Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Act, 2018 (12 of 2018), the Central Government hereby appoints the 29th day of March, 2018 as the date on which the said Act shall come into force.

[No.S-42012/02/2016-SS-II]

MANISH GUPTA, Jt. Secy.

NOTIFICATION

New Delhi, the 29th March, 2018

S.O. 1420 (E).—In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (3) of section 4 of the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 (39 of 1972), the Central Government hereby specifies that the amount of gratuity payable to an employee under the said Act shall not exceed twenty lakh rupees.

[No.S-42012/02/2016-SS-II]

MANISH GUPTA, Jt. Secy.

NOTIFICATION

New Delhi, the 29th March, 2018

S.O. 1421 (E).—In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (iv) of the Explanation to sub-section (2) of section 2A of the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 (39 of 1972), the Central Government hereby specifies for the purposes of the said clause that the total period of maternity leave in the case of a female employee shall not exceed twenty-six weeks.

[No.S-42012/02/2016-SS-II]

MANISH GUPTA, Jt. Secy.

Notification Copy

Ceiling Of Gratuity Raised To 20 Lakhs

Upper Ceiling on Gratuity 20 Lakhs – Gratuity Bill Passed by Parliament

Ministry of Labour & Employment

Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2018 passed by Parliament

The Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2018 has been passed by parliament today.The bill ensures harmony amongst employees in the private sector and Public Sector Undertakings/Autonomous Organizations under Government who are not covered under CCS (Pension) Rules. These employees will be entitled to receive higher amount of gratuity at par with their counterparts in Government sector. The bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha today and the Lok Sabha on 15 March, 2018.

The Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 applies to establishments employing 10 or more persons. The main purpose for enacting this Act is to provide social security to workman after retirement, whether retirement is a result of superannuation, or physical disablement or impairment of vital part of the body. Therefore, the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 is an important social security legislation to wage earning population in industries, factories and establishments.

The present upper ceiling on gratuity amount under the Act is Rs. 10 Lakh. The provisions for Central Government employees under Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 with regard to gratuity are also similar. Before implementation of 7th Central Pay Commission, the ceiling under CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 was Rs. 10 Lakh. However, with implementation of 7th Central Pay Commission, in case of Government servants, the ceiling has been raised to Rs. 20 Lakhs.

Therefore, considering the inflation and wage increase even in case of employees engaged in private sector, this Government decided that the entitlement of gratuity should also be revised in respect of employees who are covered under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972. Accordingly, the Government initiated the process for amendment to Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 to increase the maximum limit of gratuity to such amount as may be notified by the Central Government from time to time.

In addition, the Bill also envisages to amend the provisions relating to calculation of continuous service for the purpose of gratuity in case of female employees who are on maternity leave from ‘twelve weeks’ to such period as may be notified by the Central Government from time to time.

After enactment of the Act, the power to notify the ceiling of the amount of gratuity under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 shall stand delegated to the Central Government so that the limit can be revised from time to time keeping in view the increase in wage and inflation and future pay commissions.

Source: PIB