The Labour Department, Govt. of Punjab on November 05, 2026, issued the Punjab Social Security Rules, 2026.
The following has been stated:
• The rules establish operational guidelines for the state's Unorganised Workers' Social Security Board and the Building and Other Construction Workers' Welfare Board, mandating a three-year tenure for nominated members and requiring the unorganised board to include at least one woman and one Scheduled Caste representative. Under these guidelines, the Unorganised Workers Board shall meet quarterly with a one-third member quorum, while the Construction Workers Board shall meet half-yearly, requiring at least six members present; matters are decided by majority vote, with the Chairperson holding a deciding casting vote in the event of a tie. To protect individual employee benefits, employers shall process gratuity claims within 15 days of receipt; any gratuity owed to a minor shall be invested in a Nationalised Bank term deposit until they turn 18, and building cess payments shall be submitted within 30 days of project completion or annually if a project exceeds one year.
• Furthermore, the rules require complaints regarding withheld maternity benefits to be resolved within 45 days, mandate a funeral expense deposit of at least fifteen thousand rupees for fatal workplace injuries, and dictate that records shall be preserved for three years. Compliance is streamlined by replacing separate filings with a common, online Unified Annual Return (Form XXIV) due by February 28th or 29th each year, which officially integrates reporting across multiple modern labor codes and repeals state laws including the Workmen’s Compensation Rules, 1924, and the Punjab Maternity Benefit Rules, 1967.
[Notification No. - G.S.R.62/C.A.36/2020/Ss.154and156/2026]
