Hire in India

EOR in India

If a lack of speed or local expertise are among your top concerns when expanding to or employing workers in India, an employer of record may be the best option for achieving your global growth objectives.

An employer of record, sometimes known as an international PEO, enables you to quickly hire and onboard workers in India―often in as little as two weeks―without having to take on the cost and risk of establishing a local entity.

Learn about the hiring, employment, payroll, and benefits requirements for workers in India and how our employer of record service (EOR) and local HR experts can help you manage your international employment needs.

Hiring in India

Employment relationships in India are governed by the constitution, treaties, statutes, judicial precedents, and collective and individual contracts. There are around 165 labor laws established by states, union territories, and the central government.

Additionally, Indian law regulates, and sometimes prohibits, the use of contract workers via the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970, also called the CLRA. Employers are required to register as a principal employer, and contractors are required to hold a license.

Because of the complexity of employment laws in India, compliant employment contracts are an essential business need. As your employer of record and PEO in India, we can ensure that every contract for every worker meets all requirements. We can also provide you with guidance about cultural norms and hiring best practices and keep you up to date with employment regulations as they change.

Employment contracts in India

As you look to hire employees in India, here are some common regulations you’ll need to know to create a compliant contract, as well as how an employer of record and PEO can provide support for your unique HR needs.

Working hours

India’s typical six-day workweek is Monday through Friday for eight hours, and a half day on Saturday. Employees cannot work for more than nine hours a day (or eight in some states), or 48 hours a week.

Compensation 

As you consider the appropriate salary to offer new employees, keep in mind:

• Effective October 1, daily minimum wages range from 695 to 917 Indian rupees, up from 692 to 913 Indian rupees. Monthly minimum wages range from 18,066 to 23,836 Indian rupees, up from 17,988 to 23,732 Indian rupees.
• Central sphere minimum wages, excluding those based on piecework, range from 452 Indian rupees (US$5.40) per day to 1,035 Indian rupees, up from 449 to 1,028 Indian rupees, the Office of the Chief Labour Commissioner under the Ministry of Labour and Employment said in an order September 25.
• The central sphere includes businesses under the authority of the national government, railway administrations, mines, oil fields, major ports, and other corporations established by an act of the national government. Central sphere minimum wages are also specified for agriculture, road construction, security, loading and unloading, and sweepers and cleaners.
• Any work beyond nine hours a day or 48 hours a week is considered overtime and employees are entitled to twice the normal rate of pay per hour.

As your employer of record in India, we can provide you with resources and insights about employee compensation, so you are better equipped to make a competitive employment offer.

Bonuses

In India, The Payment of Bonus Act of 1965 mandates a minimum annual bonus of 8.33% of a worker’s annual wage. The maximum bonus allowed by law is 20%, and the percentage the employer applies for must be the same for all eligible employees.

Probationary period

Some states have a probation period indirectly addressed in the local law, which often ranges from one month to one year in the private sector, and up to two years in government jobs.

Termination and severance

State laws in India generally require one month’s written notice for termination or salary in place of notice.

In most cases, terminated employees are entitled to a warning and a fair hearing. Just cause for a dismissal includes the following:

• Theft
• Disorderly behavior
• Bribery
• Insubordination
• Habitual negligence of duty
• Lack of capability 
• Financial irregularities

Employees with at least one year of service are entitled to severance pay of 15 days’ wages for every year of service. Employees who have completed five years of service and work for an employer with 10 or more employees are entitled to a gratuity payment of 15 days’ wages multiplied by the number of years of service.

As your employer of record in India, we can work with you to quickly handle the unforeseen event of an employee termination, providing legal guidance and a personalized process that ensures you stay out of labor court.

Employee benefits and paid leave in India

When negotiating terms of an employment contract with a candidate in India, here are some of the statutory benefits and paid leave requirements to keep in mind, as well as how an employer of record can support your company’s benefits strategy.

Maternity leave

Employers must provide 26 weeks of paid leave during an employee’s first two pregnancies and 12 weeks of paid leave for any additional child as well as for adoptive and surrogacy-commissioning mothers.

Pregnant employees who have worked for an employer for at least 80 days in the 12 months prior to the date of expected delivery are eligible for benefits, with written notice seven weeks before the due date.

Vacation

For non-factory employees, vacation leave entitlements—referred to as “annual” or “privilege” leave—are governed by the Shops and Establishments Act and vary from state to state, but workers can expect at least 15 days of leave each year.

Factory workers, protected by the national Factories Act, receive one day off for every 20 days worked (up to a maximum of 12 days off). 

Holidays

India observes three national holidays:

• Republic Day
• Independence Day
• Birthday of Mahatma Gandhi

Additionally, employers are required to provide five to nine festival holidays each year depending on the state where the company is located. When employees are required to work on a public holiday, they are entitled to double pay. 

Sick leave

Personal and sick leave are generally governed by the Shops and Establishments Act. Each state in India separately defines sick leave and employee entitlements vary from seven to 12 days.

In the manufacturing sector, sick leave is governed by the Industrial Employment Act and employees are entitled to up to 10 days of leave.

Health coverage

Free public healthcare coverage is provided to all Indian residents, but a majority of the population relies on private healthcare.

As your employer of record in India, we may be able to provide optional supplementary medical insurance coverage for professionals and their dependents at a more cost-effective rate.

Additional benefits 

India’s social security system requires employer contributions that are dependent on the total number of employees, and these contributions cover pensions, medical care, disability insurance and gratuity payments. In addition, workers’ compensation is financed by contributions from state governments, employers and employees.

Employer social costs cover a large portion of employee benefits in India, but we can consult with you about supplemental coverage options, such as additional pension contributions or life insurance, if needed.

Updated: October 03, 2024

Employee onboarding with an employer of record in India

We write and validate all local employment contracts, streamlining the onboarding process for you and your Indian employees—all you have to do is provide relevant information and review and approve the employment agreement.

As your employer of record in India, we will:

• Schedule a welcome call to discuss HR and employment information for India, as well as answer any questions
• Prepare a customized employment contract in English and in Hindi (or other local language)
• Share the employment contract and benefits information with the new employee for signature and review
• Gather tax and banking information from the employee to set up payroll
• Provide a local point of contact to the employee to answer any questions regarding their employment, local HR or payroll

The entire onboarding process for the employee is often completed in as little as two weeks.

Partner with Safeguard Global as your India employer of record and PEO

With over a decade of service, we are the longest-serving employer of record and PEO provider in the international market. Organizations around the world rely on EOR, our employer of record solution, to expand and hire in over 170+ countries around the world, quickly and compliantly.

We’ve seen just about every global employment circumstance imaginable—and with our extensive knowledge of local law and culture, we know what it takes to get employment right in India. We provide written contracts in the local language, salaries in the local currency and HR support in your employees’ time zone.

Additionally, as a global payroll provider we support payroll administration—including payments, filings and other calculations— all around the world and can accommodate the payroll outsourcing needs of any size organization.

Whether you’re looking to hire as part of a strategic expansion or to meet specific talent needs, our global solutions advisors can walk you through your international hiring options so you can make the right choice for your organization. Contact us today.

Disclaimer: The information provided on or through this website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Safeguard Global expressly disclaims any liability with respect to warranty or representation concerning the information contained herein, including the lost essence, interpretation, accuracy and/or completeness of the information in transit and language translation.