Novelworx
Talk to us

Labour law, kept clear and current.

Ongoing advice on Shops & Establishments rules, contract labour, POSH and the other central and state laws that apply to you. When records have fallen behind, a one-time closure brings them up to date.

Talk to an adviser Compliance closures

What is labour law advisory?

Labour law advisory is ongoing guidance that helps an employer understand and meet its obligations under central and state labour laws. Novelworx, a manpower and HR services firm headquartered in Bengaluru, advises companies across India on Shops & Establishments rules, contract labour, POSH and related regulations, and runs one-time compliance closures for PF, ESIC, PT and labour licences.

What changed

The Labour Codes redrew the map.

India's four Labour Codes came into force in November 2025: the Code on Wages, the Industrial Relations Code, the Code on Social Security, and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code. Together they consolidate many older central labour laws.

State rules made under the codes, and state laws such as the Shops & Establishments acts, still decide much of what an employer must do day to day. Definitions such as wages can also affect how contributions are calculated.

We help you work out what changed for your business, what you need to register or update, and what stays the same.

Who it's for

When you need to know, not guess.

  1. Companies opening a new location

    New state, new rules. Registrations and licences sorted before the doors open.

  2. Employers using contract labour

    Principal employer obligations, contractor licences and records, understood and kept.

  3. Growing teams without in-house counsel

    Clear answers on labour questions without a retainer for every query.

  4. Companies reviewing policies

    POSH, leave, working hours and conduct policies checked against current law.

Ongoing advisory

Advice that keeps pace with the rules.

Central and state regulations change. We track what applies to you and tell you what to do about it.

  • Shops & Establishments
  • Contract labour
  • POSH
  • Labour Codes
  • State rules

  1. Shops & Establishments

    Registration, renewals, working hours, leave and records under your state's act.

  2. Contract labour

    Principal employer registration, contractor licensing and the records each side must keep.

  3. POSH

    Internal Committee set-up, policy, awareness and the annual reporting the law requires.

  4. Central and state regulations

    Changes under the Labour Codes and state rules, with what each means for you.

Compliance closures

Behind on filings? Close the gap once.

A one-time, structured clean-up across PF, ESIC, PT and labour licences. Legacy records regularised, so you start audit-ready.

  • PF
  • ESIC
  • Professional Tax
  • Labour licences
  • Audit-ready records

  1. Review

    We go through registrations, deposits, returns and licences, period by period.

  2. Gap list

    Every missing registration, late deposit and unfiled return, listed and prioritised.

  3. Regularise

    We prepare and file what is needed to bring each record up to date.

  4. Hand over

    A clean position, moved onto a monthly compliance calendar so it stays clean.

How it works

From first question to steady state.

  1. Discovery call

    Your locations, workforce mix and the questions on your mind.

  2. Compliance review

    Where you stand today, state by state.

  3. Proposal

    Advisory scope, any closure work, and an SLA.

  4. Fix

    Closures and registrations completed in a set order.

  5. Advise

    Ongoing answers and updates as rules change.

  6. Review

    A quarterly check that nothing has slipped.

How it compares

Advisory, closure or managed compliance?

  1. Ongoing advisory

    • Answers and updates as rules change
    • You keep running your own filings
    • Best when you have a team but need guidance

  2. One-time closure

    • A fixed clean-up of past gaps
    • Ends with an audit-ready position
    • Best when records have fallen behind

  3. Managed compliance

    • We run the filings every month
    • Delivered through Payroll & Compliance
    • Best when you want it off your desk for good

Disputes and litigation belong with your legal counsel. We work alongside them on the HR and compliance side.

Questions, answered

What labour law advisory does Novelworx provide?

Novelworx gives ongoing advice on Shops & Establishments rules, contract labour, POSH and other central and state labour regulations, including changes under India's Labour Codes. It also runs one-time compliance closures across PF, ESIC, Professional Tax and labour licences, so companies can fix past gaps and stay current as rules change.

What are India's four Labour Codes?

India's four Labour Codes are the Code on Wages, the Industrial Relations Code, the Code on Social Security, and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code. They came into force in November 2025 and consolidate many older central labour laws. Novelworx helps employers understand what the codes change for them.

What is a Shops and Establishments registration?

A Shops and Establishments registration is a state-level registration that most shops, offices and commercial establishments need. Each state's act sets rules on working hours, holidays, leave, wages and records. Requirements differ by state, so Novelworx checks the applicable act before a client opens or expands a location.

What does POSH require from employers?

The POSH Act, the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, requires employers above a set size to form an Internal Committee, adopt a policy, raise awareness and report annually. Novelworx advises clients on setting up and maintaining these requirements. Smaller workplaces fall under a district Local Committee.

What is a contract labour licence?

A contract labour licence is the permission a contractor needs to supply workers to an establishment, while the establishment usually registers as a principal employer. The Labour Codes have changed parts of this regime, and state rules apply. Novelworx advises clients on the current requirements and keeps its own licences in order.

What is a one-time compliance closure?

A one-time compliance closure is a structured clean-up of legacy statutory records. Novelworx reviews a company's PF, ESIC, Professional Tax and labour licence records, lists every gap, regularises what is missing and brings everything up to date. The company ends with a clean, audit-ready position and can move onto a monthly compliance calendar.

When does a company need a compliance closure?

A company usually needs a compliance closure when filings have been missed, registrations were never taken in a state where it employs people, records are incomplete after rapid growth, or a funding round, acquisition or audit is coming. Novelworx reviews the position first, so the closure covers only what needs fixing.

Does Novelworx replace a labour lawyer?

No. Novelworx advises on day-to-day labour law compliance, registrations, licences, policies and filings, and runs compliance closures. Disputes, litigation and formal legal opinions belong with a qualified lawyer. Novelworx works alongside a client's legal counsel on the HR and compliance side, so each does the work it is best placed to do.

Find out where you stand.

Tell us your locations and workforce mix. We'll review your position and return a scope and an SLA.

Talk to an adviser

Looking for a role? See open positions