The nine Acts it consolidates
| Area | Former Act |
|---|---|
| Provident fund | Employees' Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 |
| State insurance | Employees' State Insurance Act, 1948 |
| Gratuity | Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 |
| Maternity benefit | Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 |
| Employee compensation | Employee's Compensation Act, 1923 |
| And more | Cine workers, building workers cess, unorganised workers welfare and others |
EPF, ESI and gratuity
Provident fund and state insurance coverage continue by establishment type and threshold, and the code lets the government extend coverage more widely over time. Gratuity remains payable, but the code makes fixed-term employees eligible on a pro-rata basis on completion of their term, without the usual five-year continuous-service condition applying to them in the same way.
Gig and platform workers
For the first time, gig and platform workers get a statutory social-security route, with schemes to be funded in part by contributions from aggregators, alongside registration on the government's worker database. The detailed schemes are framed by notification, so this is a framework that expands as schemes are announced.
What still runs under the old schemes
Several provisions, particularly the operational EPF and ESI schemes, continue under their existing machinery until the corresponding schemes under the code are framed. Confirm the current position for a specific benefit before assuming the code has replaced the old scheme.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Social Security Code change gratuity for fixed-term staff?
Yes. A fixed-term employee becomes eligible for gratuity on a pro-rata basis on completing the fixed term, rather than needing five years of continuous service in the way a permanent employee does.
What does the code do for gig and platform workers?
It creates a statutory social-security framework for gig and platform workers, with schemes funded partly by aggregator contributions and worker registration on the government database. Specific schemes are notified over time.
Which laws did the Social Security Code replace?
Nine, including the EPF Act 1952, the ESI Act 1948, the Payment of Gratuity Act 1972, the Maternity Benefit Act 1961 and the Employee's Compensation Act 1923.
Are EPF and ESI rules changing immediately?
The code is in force, but the operational EPF and ESI schemes continue under their existing machinery until the schemes under the code are framed. Confirm the current position for a specific benefit.
PF, ESI and gratuity, computed automatically
ZeniaHR computes PF, ESI and gratuity for every worker and tracks fixed-term eligibility, with challan-ready outputs.
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