Lok Sabha Question No. 4861 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-23
Subject: Unified Annual Returns
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Shri Shrirang Appa Chandu Barne, Shri Naresh Ganpat Mhaske, Dr. Shrikant Eknath Shinde, Shri Atul Garg, Smt. Bharti Pardhi, Shri Ravindra Dattaram Waikar

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4861

TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.03.2026

## UNIFIED ANNUAL RETURNS

4861. SHRI SHRIRANG APPA CHANDU BARNE:

SHRI NARESH GANPAT MHASKE:

DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

SHRI ATUL GARG:

SMT. BHARTI PARDHI:

SHRI RAVINDRA DATTARAM WAIKAR:

Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state:

- (a)whether the Government has implemented the system of "Unified Annual Returns" for establishments by replacing multiple separate filings under the various labour laws with a single simplified digital
- form and if so, the details thereof;
- (b)whether the said deregulation is designed to significantly reduce the  compliance burden and "Inspector Raj" for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) allowing them to focus on business
- growth rather than paperwork and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of "Self-Certification" schemes extended to startups and small industries to further streamline regulatory oversight;
- (d)the  details  of  safeguards  aimed  at  ensuring  that  this  simplified reporting does not dilute the monitoring of critical labour standards and worker safety; and
- (e)the  manner  in  which  the  "Minimum  Government,  Maximum Governance" approach improves India's global competitiveness as a manufacturing hub?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)

- (a) & (b): Yes,  Sir.  The  Government  has  already  implemented  the system of unified Annual Return for establishments. The establishments are now required to file single consolidated annual return  online  through  the  Shram  Suvidha  Portal(SSP),  in  place  of multiple returns under central jurisdiction.

The erstwhile Acts & Rules covered in the Common Return are as under: -

1. The Payment of Wages Act, 1936
2. The Minimum Wages Act, 1948
3. The Contract Labour (R&A) Act, 1970
4. The ISMW (RE&CS) Act,1979
5. The BOCW (RE&CS) Act, 1996
6. The Maternity Benefits Act, 1961
7. The Industrial Disputes Act, 1947
8. The Payment of Bonus Act, 1965
9. Coal Mines Regulations, Metal Mines Regulations and Oil Mines Regulations of Mines Act, 1952.

The Unified online Annual Return through Shram Suvidha Portal aimed to reduce the compliance burden of multiple reporting under erstwhile labour acts. One unified annual return was required to be filed  under the Eight enactments and another Return for three

Regulations under Mines Act, 1952.

However, under the four Labour Codes which have been made  effective  from  21.11.2025,  provision  for  filing  single  online

Return has been provided.

- (c): The Government with an intent to build a strong ecosystem  for  nurturing innovation,  start-ups  and  encouraging investments  launched  the  Startup  India  initiative  on  16 th   January 2016.  The  Government  also  unveiled  a  Startup  India  Action  Plan comprising of schemes and incentives envisaged to create a vibrant startup ecosystem in the country. The Shram Suvidha Portal allows the Start-ups, after verification from Start-up India portal of DPIIT, to submit self-certification returns under various Labour Laws for the first year. From the second year onwards and up to five year of setting up  of  the  unit,  such  Start-ups  are  taken  up  for  inspection  only  on receipt of verifiable complaint against them or in case of emergency situations such as accidents.
- (d): The simplified  reporting  mechanism  does  not  dilute  the monitoring of critical labour standards or workplace safety. In order to  ensure effective enforcement of labour rights, randomized webbased inspection system is in place through Shram Suvidha Portal for transparent  and  efficient  inspection  system  to  ensure  better  and wider compliance without diluting the monitoring of standards and worker safety.

(e): For easing regulatory compliance and ensuring 'Minimum Government,  Maximum  Governance' across  the  country,  Central Government has taken several initiatives under the flagship programme  of  Ease  of  Doing  Business  which  includes  Business Reform Action Plan (BRAP), the Business- Ready assessment, JanVishwas  and  Reducing  Compliance  Burden  on  Businesses  and Citizens, and Cost of Regulation (CoR) exercise to identify and reform the  areas  of  pain-points  in  terms  of  administrative  costs  for  the services. Central Ministries/Departments, and States/UTs are actively engaged in self-identification exercises, successfully reducing various compliances.

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