Growing businesses often find themselves juggling people, performance, payroll and compliance all at once. Among these, labour law compliance is not a one-time task. It involves an ongoing cycle of registrations, filings, record maintenance, and regulatory deadlines. In 2026, with the rollout of new labour codes and ongoing statutory requirements, staying compliant is both a legal responsibility and a foundation for smooth operations.
This checklist simplifies what HR teams must prepare for, ensuring nothing critical is missed. It highlights the biggest gaps many teams struggle with and shows how structured advisory and compliance support can make compliance easier and more reliable.
Where HR Teams Commonly Struggle with Compliance
Many HR teams know compliance matters, but they trip over a few common challenges:
- Keeping Up with Labour Law Changes Across India
HR compliance requires adherence to existing central and state labour laws, along with regular updates issued through notifications and amendments. While labour codes are being implemented in phases, many procedural changes already apply today, making it essential for HR teams to stay updated to avoid compliance gaps across locations.
- Monthly,quarterlyand annual deadlines
PF, ESI, TDS, bonus and return filings all have different timelines. Missing one can lead to penalties and interest charges.
- Maintainingcorrect registers and documentation
Attendance, wage, overtime, leave and other registers are legally required under multiple acts, and digital records are increasingly expected during audits or inspections.
- Compliance across multiple states
Different state rules for Professional Tax, Shops & Establishments, or welfare fund obligations add complexity to HR compliance teams.
- Lack of specialist compliance expertise
In-house teams may be focused on operations and engagement, not statutory intricacies. This leads to gaps or late updates.
Annual, Monthly and Event-Based Statutory Requirements
A practical checklist needs to separate tasks by frequency. Here’s an easy breakdown:
Monthly Compliance Tasks
These are routine and must be on your compliance calendar:
- EPF contributions & ECR filing — deposit and submit by the 15th every month.
- ESI contributions & filing — contributions and returns also by the 15th.
- TDS on Salaries — deduct and deposit by the 7th of the next month.
- Professional Tax (where applicable) — follow state deadlines.
- Attendance and wage registers updates — maintain daily or as required.
Monthly compliance is about consistency. Automating reminders and digital submissions helps avoid penalties.
Quarterly and Annual Tasks
Some filings only recur less frequently but are equally crucial:
- Quarterly TDS returns (Form 24Q) — file each quarter.
- Labour Welfare Fund filings (if applicable) — follow state schedule.
- Bonus Act compliance and payment — administer yearly bonus where applicable.
- Gratuity and long-service benefits — calculate liabilities and records annually.
- Annual returns under labour law registers — for acts like Factories Act or Shops & Establishments.
Event-based filings, such as changes in employee count, new registrations, or changes in state rules, must also be tracked and executed on time.
Registers, Returns, Licenses & Documentation HR Must Maintain
Mandatory Registers and Records
- Employee register / muster roll — basic employment details.
- Attendance register — in/out times, leaves and weekly offs.
- Wage / salary register — earnings, deductions, net pay.
- Leave register — records of different leave types.
- Overtime register — hours worked and overtime wages.
Digital registers are becoming the norm as authorities increasingly expect real-time, exportable records.
Returns and Filings
- EPF and ESI returns — monthly filings with correct contributions.
- TDS returns and Form 16 issuance — accurate reporting and documentation.
- Labour code based annual returns — under Factories Act, minimum wages, bonus, etc.
Digital record-keeping reduces errors during inspections or electronic audits.
Licenses and Registrations
- EPF and ESIC registrations — mandatory when thresholds are met.
- Shops and Establishments Act registrations — state-specific renewals.
- Contract Labour registration — where applicable.
- Other state-specific licences and welfare fund registrations — such as Professional Tax.
A unified compliance calendar helps track renewals and avoids lapses.
Labour Law Updates India: What’s Evolving
A big change that HR teams must prepare for in 2026 is the implementation of consolidated labour codes. The Central Government has consolidated multiple labour laws into four labour codes, with states implementing them in phases — covering wages, industrial relations, social security, and occupational safety.
Some important points HR teams should watch:
- Unified registration and filing requirements under new labour codes make compliance simpler in theory but demand higher accuracy in practice.
- Digital registers and e-filing platforms are now expected for many statutory records.
- Social security coverage is expanding, including benefits for migrant and platform workers.
Staying updated on these developments is an essential part of labour law advisory and risk management.
How Prompt Personnel Ensures Nothing Is Missed
Managing all these compliance items can be overwhelming for internal HR teams, especially when laws change quickly, or when operations span multiple states. This is where expert help makes a real difference.
- Structured compliance calendars
We prepare regular compliance calendars that cover monthly, quarterly and annual deadlines so no filing is missed.
- Documentation and registers support
We help maintain and store statutory registers and documents, whether digitally or in print, so organisations are always ready for inspections or audits.
- Expert labour law advisors
Our team monitors labour law updates India-wide, including code changes and state variations, and offers proactive guidance rather than reactive fixes.
- Reporting and audit readiness
Regular compliance reports and checks help leadership understand compliance status clearly. This reduces risk and keeps statutory health under control.
Through structured HR compliance consulting, Prompt Personnel helps organisations stay aligned with labour law updates, manage statutory obligations, and maintain audit-ready documentation without overloading internal HR teams. This structured support helps organisations stay confident about compliance management even in times of change.
Looking Ahead: Build Compliance Confidence for 2026 and Beyond
Labour law compliance is not a checklist you tick once. It is an ongoing responsibility that protects your business, your employees, and your reputation. Preparing with the right systems, accurate registers, and expert advisory support ensures you meet statutory requirements without last-minute stress. For growing organisations, expert HR compliance consulting ensures that compliance remains structured, predictable, and stress-free even as laws and workforce needs evolve.
If you want deeper insights into how compliance varies across states and industries, you can also read our next blog titled “Why Prompt Personnel Is the Preferred Labour Law Consultancy for Multi-State Enterprises.”