Major changes in CSS Rules:
Supersession of Existing Rules
The 2026 Rules formally replace and consolidate the following older frameworks:
- The Haryana Maternity Benefit Rules, 1967.
- The Haryana Payment of Gratuity Rules, 1972.
- The Haryana Unorganised Workers Social Security Rules, 2010.
- The Punjab Employees Insurance Courts Rules, 1951 (as applicable to Haryana).
- The Employment Exchanges (Compulsory Notification of Vacancies) Rules, 1960.
- The Haryana Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board Rules, 2005.
2. Digital-First Registration & Compliance
- Common Registration Form: Establishments must now apply electronically using Form-I of the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Haryana) Rules, 2026, which serves as a common form for registration.
- Timeline for Approval: Registration certificates are issued electronically immediately if the application is complete, with a maximum “deemed registration” period of seven days.
- Aadhaar & PAN Integration: Mandatory online verification of PAN and other unique identification numbers during the application process.
- Validity & Expiration: A registration number will now expire after 24 months if no compliance is reported on the portal, though it can be revoked upon application.
3. Haryana Unorganized Workers Social Security Board Reorganization
- Term Limits: Board members (non-ex officio) are limited to a maximum of two terms.
- Representation Mandates: Out of the seven persons nominated from the unorganized sector, the rules now strictly mandate at least one member each from Scheduled Castes, minorities, and women.
- Departmental Integration: Ten members are nominated from specific state departments, including new focus areas like the Citizen Resource Information Department and the Housing for All Department.
- Quorum Requirements: A quorum of ten members is now required for any business transaction at Board meetings.
4. Career Centre & Vacancy Reporting
- Regional Career Centres: The rules define “Regional Career Centres” (notified by the State Government) to manage employment services and vacancy reporting via a designated portal.
- Unique Vacancy Number: When vacancies are reported, the Regional Career Centre must provide a unique vacancy reporting number within five working days.
- Mandatory Inclusion in Ads: Employers/aggregators who advertise vacancies in any media are now required to quote this unique vacancy reporting number in the advertisement.
5. Gratuity and Compensation Procedures
- Electronic Claims: Procedures for the payment of gratuity and compensation for employee injuries are now heavily weighted toward electronic filing and digital payments.
- Revised Formats: The notification introduces updated standardized forms (e.g., Form 9 for Notice Books and Form 10/11 for Memorandums of Agreement) to streamline legal settlements for temporary or permanent disablement.
Major changes in IR Code Rules
1. Consolidation and Supersession
- Replacement of Multiple Rules: The 2026 rules formally supersede several long-standing regulations, including the Haryana Maternity Benefit Rules (1967), Haryana Payment of Gratuity Rules (1972), and Industrial Disputes (Punjab) Rules (1958).
- Integration with Central Code: These rules are specifically designed to implement the provisions of the Code on Social Security, 2020 and the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, following the central notification that brought these codes into force on November 21, 2025.
2. Digital Compliance Framework
- Common Registration: Establishments now use a single electronic form (Form I) under the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Haryana) Rules, 2026 for registration across various codes.
- Auto-Generation of Certificates: If an application is complete, registration certificates are issued electronically. If not issued within seven days, the establishment is “deemed registered” and the certificate is auto-generated.
- Expiration of Registration: Registration numbers now expire after 24 months if no compliance is reported on the designated portal.
- Electronic Filing: Almost all submissions, including settlement reports, accident notices, and vacancy notifications, are now mandated to be done “electronically” (via email or designated portals).
3. Employment and Career Centres
- Regional Career Centres: The 2026 rules formally define and empower Regional Career Centres (connected to a designated portal) to manage employment-related services and vacancy monitoring.
- Mandatory Vacancy Reporting: Employers must now report vacancies electronically through these centres.
- Unique Vacancy Numbers: Career centres must provide a unique reporting number within five days, which employers are often required to reference in job advertisements.
4. Industrial Relations and Worker Representation
- Works Committee Constitution: Clearer mandates are provided for the representation of women in Works Committees, requiring their representation to be at least proportional to the number of women workers in the establishment.
- Electronic Voting for Representatives: Employers can now deploy online platforms for the election of worker representatives to the Works Committee, provided the secrecy of the vote is maintained.
- Standardized Settlements: Formal settlements, whether reached during conciliation or through mutual agreement, must now strictly follow Form I and be filed electronically with the Labour Commissioner.
5. Social Security Board Reorganisation
- Aadhaar and PAN Integration: Mandatory online verification of PAN for establishments and Aadhaar for individuals (such as in injury compensation claims or registration) is now standardized across the rules.
- Standardized Compensation Forms: New standardized electronic forms (like Form 10) are introduced for memorandums of agreement regarding injury compensation to ensure consistency in settlements