The Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Act, 2018, has been brought into force from 29-03-2018. The Bill was passed by Lok Sabha on 15-03-2018 and by Rajya Sabha on 22-03-2018 and received the assent of the President on the 28th March 2018.
The Central Government notification was issued on 29th March, 2018. - Gratuity Maximum Limit Raised From 10 to 20 lack
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 workmen 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 lakhs. 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 lakhs. 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, the Government decided that 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 lakhs.
In addition, the Act has also amended the provisions relating to calculation of continuous service for the purpose of gratuity in case of female employees who are on maternity leave from ‘12 weeks’ to ‘such period as may be notified by the Central Government from time to time’. This period has been notified as ’26 weeks’.
Major Impact —
The Amendment 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.
[Press Release no. 1527082, dt. 30-03-2018]
Ministry of Labour and Employment
The Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Act, 2018
The Central Government notification issued on 29th March, 2018.
