THE ESIC RELEASES GUIDELINES FOR ADHERING TO THE HIV/AIDS ACT
The ESIC has issued orders dated May 27, 2024 to all ESIC medical colleges and hospitals and ESIS hospitals to ensure the provision of treatment, diagnostic facilities, anti-retroviral therapy, and opportunistic infection management to people living with HIV or AIDS. These orders are in response to the Supreme Court's ruling in CPL Ashish Kumar Chauhan Retd. V. Commanding Officer and Ors. Civil Appeal No.(s) 7175 of 2021, which directed the federal and state governments to ensure strict compliance with the HIV Act. All ESIC and ESIS hospitals must make sure that employees who pose a significant risk of occupational HIV exposure follow these guidelines in order to ensure a safe work environment: (i) provide, in compliance with the guidelines, training on how to apply universal precautions to all employees who may be exposed to HIV at work; (ii) inform and educate all employees about the availability of postexposure prophylaxis and universal precautions. Hospitals are required to appoint a Complaint Officer to handle complaints regarding HIV Act violations. The HIV Act allows the institution to create a standard operating procedure (SOP) for handling certain types of complaints.
DISTRICT MAGISTRATE'S OFFICE IN GURUGRAM DIRECTS FACILITIES TO BE ADADEQUATE TO EMPLOYEES DUE TO THE OUTBREAK OF A SERIOUS HEATWAVE
In light of the extreme heat wave that has been plaguing the region, the region Magistrate of Gurugram has issued an order dated May 31, 2024 Ends No. 67/FRA. requesting that the RWA societies, employers, and contractors of these laborers set up the following amenities for their workers: 1. The availability of potable water. 2. Water coolers, ventilation, and shade arrangements at work. 3. Giving employees ORS, glucose kits, Shikanji, Nimbu panis, water bottles, and ice packs. 4. Setting aside the hourly minimum for outside labor from 12 to 4 p.m. 5. Paying for the medical expenses of employees who suffer from illnesses linked to heatwaves. 6. Steer clear of phoning domestic maids or house assistants in the afternoon.
KARNATAKA EXEMPTS IT/ITES ESTABLISHMENTS FROM THE INDUSTRIAL EMPLOYMENT (STANDING ORDERS) ACT, 1946
On June 10, 2024, the Karnataka state government took a major step in the direction of creating a businessfriendly environment by exempting a number of establishment categories, including those in the information technology ("IT") and IT-enabled services ("ITeS") sector, from the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946 for a further five years. This incredible advancement streamlines state procedures and encourages a business-friendly atmosphere while also enabling establishments to carry out international strategies. The government is once again paving the way for a more effective, flexible, and agile work environment by extending the exemption, which is in line with the changing needs of contemporary enterprises. Employers must, however, meet a few requirements in order to be eligible for this exemption.
EMPLOYEES’ PROVIDENT FUND ORGANISATION ISSUES TEMPORARY MEASURE TO SETTLE PHYSICAL CLAIMS AND BENEFITS OF BENEFICIARIES IN CASE OF DEATH
In order to verify the identity of the deceased and the claimants' sincerity, the Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India, approved the processing of physical claims without requiring the seeding of Aadhaar through a circular dated May 17, 2024 (with the due approval of the OIC in an e-office file duly recording details of verification done). The directives were given because incomplete or erroneous member information in Aadhaar prevented timely benefit releases to beneficiaries in the event of a member's death and could not be changed or corrected after the person's death. These guidelines will only be applicable in situations where a member's information is accurate in their universal account number but incomplete or erroneous in the Aadhaar database.
June 2024 Policy Updates
Updated: Feb 25
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