February is one of the most compliance-intensive months under Indian labour laws. Employers across India are required to complete multiple annual returns, monthly remittances, and state-specific filings under various Central and State Acts.
A missed deadline in February can easily trigger penalties, interest, inspections, or compliance notices. This blog provides a practical compliance checklist for February 2026 to help employers stay fully compliant.
Why February 2026 Is a Critical Compliance Month
Unlike routine months, February includes a large number of annual and unified returns under:
- Minimum Wages Act
- Contract Labour (Regulation & Abolition) Act
- Inter-State Migrant Workmen Act
- Payment of Wages Act
- Factories Act
- Shops & Establishments Acts
- Professional Tax Acts
- ESIC & EPF laws
These compliances apply to Factories, Establishments, Contractors, Principal Employers, and HR / Payroll teams across multiple states.
Labour Laws Compliance Checklist – February 2026
1. Minimum Wages Act, 1948
✔ Annual / Unified Annual Return (Form III)
✔ Applicable in multiple states including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, and others
Due Date: Mostly 1st or 15th February 2026 (state-specific)
2. Contract Labour (Regulation & Abolition) Act, 1970
✔ Annual Return by Principal Employer
✔ Annual Return by Contractor
✔ Unified Annual Return in notified states
Common Forms: XXV, XXI, XIV
Due Date: 1st / 15th / 28th February 2026 (as applicable)
3. Inter-State Migrant Workmen Act, 1979
✔ Annual Return by Employer / Principal Employer
✔ Unified Annual Return in select states
Form: XXIV / XIV
Due Date: Mostly 15th February 2026
4. Payment of Wages Act, 1936
✔ Annual Return submission
Form: IV / VIII (state-specific)
Due Date: 1st or 15th February 2026
5. Factories Act, 1948
✔ Annual Factory Return
✔ Leave with Wages / Compensatory Holiday Returns (where applicable)
Forms: 20, 23, 24, 27
Due Date: 1st February 2026 in many states
6. Shops & Establishments Act
✔ Annual Return under respective State Shops Act
✔ Applicable to offices, IT companies, service establishments
States Covered: Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Delhi, etc.
Due Date: Mostly 1st February 2026
7. Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF)
✔ Monthly PF contribution remittance
Due Date: 15th February 2026
8. Employees’ State Insurance (ESIC)
✔ Monthly ESIC contribution challan
Due Date: 15th February 2026
9. Professional Tax (PT)
✔ Monthly / Half-Yearly PT payment and return
States Covered: Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Assam, Punjab, West Bengal, etc.
Due Date: Between 20th to 29th February 2026, depending on the state
10. Labour Welfare & State-Specific Compliances
✔ Shops Welfare Fund Contributions
✔ Panchayat / Municipal Professional Tax
✔ State Development Tax (Punjab)
Due Dates: State-specific in February 2026
Who Should Follow This Compliance Checklist?
This checklist is applicable to:
- Factories & Manufacturing Units
- Corporate Offices & Establishments
- Contractors & Principal Employers
- HR, Payroll & Compliance Teams
- Startups scaling operations
- MSMEs & Large Enterprises
Common Compliance Risks in February
- Missing annual return deadlines
- Incorrect form selection
- Mismatch in payroll & statutory data
- Late payment of PF / ESIC / PT
- Non-maintenance of registers
Tip: February filings often rely on previous financial year data, making accuracy critical.
How Sankhla Corporate Services Pvt. Ltd. Can Help
At Sankhla Corporate Services Pvt. Ltd., we provide:
✔ End-to-end Labour Law Compliance Management
✔ February Annual Return Filings
✔ State-wise Compliance Calendar Tracking
✔ Register & Record Maintenance
✔ Compliance Audits & Advisory
✔ PF, ESIC & PT Compliance Support
Avoid last-minute stress—plan your February 2026 compliances in advance.
Final Thoughts
February 2026 demands proactive compliance planning. With multiple annual and monthly filings due across Central and State labour laws, a structured checklist is the best way to avoid penalties and ensure peace of mind.
Need help with February 2026 labour law compliances calendar february 2026?
Get in touch with Sankhla Corporate Services Pvt. Ltd. for reliable and timely compliance support.
