Notification Record & Forms
Notification details and the forms every employer needs, in one place.
- Issuing authority
- Labour, Factories, Boilers and Insurance Medical Services Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh (Lab.II)
- Notified
- 7 July 2026 through G.O.Rt.No.126, published in the Andhra Pradesh Gazette, Part I Extraordinary, No.345
- Legal basis
- Sections 154 and 156 of the Code on Social Security 2020, Central Act No.36 of 2020
- Supersedes
- Employees Compensation Act 1923, Maternity Benefit Act 1961, Payment of Gratuity Act 1972 and Unorganised Workers Social Security Act 2008, as applicable within Andhra Pradesh
- Status as of August 2026
- Notified and in force across Andhra Pradesh, since the rules commenced on the date of Gazette publication
Andhra Pradesh has published the final version of the Code on Social Security (Andhra Pradesh) Rules 2026 under its Labour, Factories, Boilers and Insurance Medical Services Department. These rules give practical shape to the central Code on Social Security 2020 and take over from older laws that separately governed employee compensation, maternity benefit, gratuity and unorganised worker welfare in the state. This guide explains the forms employers need to file, the due dates worth tracking, the key provisions to remember, how the new system compares with the old laws, who it applies to, and answers to common questions people are asking about it.
Forms under the State Rules
Due Dates
Compliance deadlines, forms and how often each one recurs.
| Compliance | Form | Compliance Frequency | Due Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registration of a new establishment | Form I of the OSH AP Rules 2026 | One time | Certificate issued within 7 days of a complete application, or deemed registered |
| Update of change in establishment details | Whenever a change occurs | Within 30 days of the change | |
| Nomination for gratuity | Form I | Once, then on change | Within 90 days of completing one year of service |
| Issue of wage slip | Every pay cycle | At least 24 hours before payment of wages | |
| Unified annual return | Form XIII | Yearly | On or before 1 February each year |
| Employment Information Return | Form XVII | Yearly | Within 30 days of 31 March |
| Reporting a vacancy to the regional career centre | Form XV | Whenever a vacancy arises | At least 15 days before the last date for applications |
| Response to a gratuity application | Form III | Whenever a claim is received | Notice within 15 days, payment within 30 days |
| Payment of compounding amount | Form XIV | Whenever a compounding notice is issued | Within 15 days of receiving the notice |
| Preservation of registers and records | Ongoing | Kept for 5 calendar years from the last entry |
Key Provisions
What changed under the Code, and what it means for payroll.
Old Law vs. New Law
What employers followed before, against what applies now — point matched against point.
| On this point | Before — earlier law | Now — the new Code |
|---|---|---|
| Governing law | Four separate laws: Employees Compensation Act 1923, Maternity Benefit Act 1961, Payment of Gratuity Act 1972 and Unorganised Workers Social Security Act 2008 | One Code on Social Security 2020, given local effect through the Code on Social Security (Andhra Pradesh) Rules 2026 |
| Registration | Separate registration required under each Act | A single Form I registration, valid across the connected labour codes, with certificates auto generated if delayed |
| Gratuity for fixed term staff | Fixed term employees were largely outside the gratuity net | Fixed term employees become eligible after completing one year under contract, with part years of 6 months or more rounded up |
| Maternity benefit wage floor | No common statewide floor amount was fixed under the old Act | Payable at the higher of average daily wage, minimum wage under the Code on Wages, or two hundred rupees a day |
| Crèche support | No standard crèche allowance where a crèche was not provided | A crèche allowance of at least rupees five hundred a month for each child, for up to two children |
| Annual filing | Separate returns filed under separate laws and departments | One unified annual return in Form XIII, filed online by 1 February, covering multiple labour codes together |
| Grievance and offence handling | Different inspecting officers and procedures for each Act | A common Inspector cum Facilitator and competent authority structure, with a formal compounding process for offences |
Applicability
Who the Code covers, and who gets special or exempt treatment.
Covered
- Establishments to which the Code on Social Security 2020 applies within Andhra Pradesh
- Employees who complete 5 years of continuous service, for gratuity purposes
- Women employees who have worked at least 80 days, for maternity benefit
- Establishments with 50 or more employees, for crèche facility
- Building and construction workers, through the Andhra Pradesh Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board
- Unorganised sector workers, through the Andhra Pradesh Unorganised Workers Social Security Board
Exempted / special treatment
- Establishments can seek exemption under Rule 49 if employees already receive benefits equal to or better than the Code, by applying electronically
- Fixed term employees qualify after 1 year under contract, with periods of 6 months or more counted as a full extra year
- Establishments already governed by the Code on Wages 2019 or the OSH Code 2020 rules are treated as having met certain overlapping register requirements
- A common crèche within an industrial park or industrial area can be treated as meeting the distance requirement, with relaxation allowed by the competent authority
- The State Government may, in exceptional circumstances, dispense with electronic registration for a specified establishment or class of establishment
- Central Government establishments and matters follow separate rules framed by the Central Government
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to what employers ask us most about this rule.
What is the Code on Social Security (Andhra Pradesh) Rules 2026?
It is the set of state rules that Andhra Pradesh has notified to give effect to the central Code on Social Security 2020. It covers gratuity, maternity benefit, employee compensation, and social security for unorganised and building workers within the state.
When did the rules come into force?
The rules came into force on 7 July 2026, the date they were published in the Andhra Pradesh Gazette, as stated in Rule 1(2) of the notification.
Which older laws do these rules replace?
They replace the Employees Compensation Act 1923, the Maternity Benefit Act 1961, the Payment of Gratuity Act 1972 and the Unorganised Workers Social Security Act 2008, as far as Andhra Pradesh is concerned.
Do employers need to register their establishment again?
Yes. Every employer of an establishment that is not already registered must apply electronically using Form I of the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Andhra Pradesh) Rules 2026, which also serves as the common registration form under these rules.
How soon will an employer get the registration certificate?
The certificate is issued electronically, often right away, and in any case within seven days of a complete application. If it is not issued in that time, the establishment is treated as registered automatically.
What is the minimum service needed to claim gratuity?
An employee generally needs five years of continuous service. Fixed term employees can claim gratuity after completing at least one year under their contract, with six months or more of the following period rounded up to one additional year.
What daily wage rate applies to maternity benefit?
It is the higher of the woman employee average daily wage, the minimum wage fixed under the Code on Wages 2019, or two hundred rupees a day, whichever amount works out to be greater.
Sources
Where every fact on this page comes from.
For informational purposes only — not legal advice. State rules referenced here are subject to change on final notification. Verify current status with our compliance team before acting.