Global Expansion Resources | India
India HR Services
Expand your business into India without the HR burden
Fulfil your India HR responsibilities with ease
India is one of the world’s most exciting markets for business expansion, and for good reason. A vast, highly educated workforce, a booming technology sector and a domestic consumer market of more than a billion people make it an obvious destination for ambitious companies. But expanding into India is not without its challenges.
Employment law in India operates across both the central and state levels. This means the rules governing working hours, minimum wages, leave entitlements and payroll compliance can vary significantly depending on where in the country your employees are based. Add to that statutory obligations like Provident Fund, Employee State Insurance and the Prevention of Sexual Harassment Act, and it quickly becomes clear that staying compliant requires genuine local expertise.
Building an in-house HR team on the ground in India may feel like the right answer, but it’s often slow and expensive. Our India HR Services offer a faster, more practical alternative: expert, compliant support that integrates seamlessly with your existing team and keeps pace with a regulatory environment that continues to evolve.
With more than 25 years of experience helping businesses expand globally, Leap29 takes the complexity out of Indian HR, leaving you to stay focused on what matters: growing your business.
Our India HR Services include:
- Drafting and issuing India-compliant appointment letters and employment contracts
- Running India payroll in line with EPF, ESI, TDS and Professional Tax obligations
- Managing statutory benefits, gratuity and leave entitlements
- Setting up and administering Internal Complaints Committees under the POSH Act
- Implementing disciplinary, grievance, and equality policies
- Advising on state-specific Shops and Establishments Act requirements
- India HR Compliance and Advisory Support
Want to expand into India?
Contact us today to see how Leap29 can be the trusted partner that supports your global expansion.
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What’s included:
HR software
Bespoke employee management software included in our PEO service.
Global compliance
We have expert teams across the world to ensure global compliance.
Transparent pricing
Avoid hidden costs and account for our fee with our transparent pricing.
India HR Compliance & Advisory Support
Key HR responsibilities in India
Employment contracts and working conditions
While there is no single central law mandating a written employment contract in India, appointment letters are standard practice, with many state-level Shops and Establishments Acts requiring written terms to be issued. Leap29 ensures your contracts reflect the right statutory minimum conditions for the relevant state, cover working hours in line with the Factories Act (or applicable state legislation) and meet data protection expectations under India’s evolving privacy framework.
Provident Fund and ESI
The Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) applies to businesses with 20 or more employees, with both employer and employee contributing 12% of basic salary. The Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) scheme covers employees earning up to ₹21,000 (~$220) per month, with employer contributions set at 3.25%. Leap29 manages your EPF and ESI registrations, monthly filings and compliance obligations, keeping you on the right side of the law from day one.
Payroll and tax compliance
India payroll involves multiple layers of obligation: Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) under the Income Tax Act, Professional Tax levied at the state level, and Labour Welfare Fund contributions in applicable states. Our team handles your end-to-end payroll processing, ensuring accurate deductions, timely remittances and full compliance with each layer of requirement, no matter where your employees are located.
Gratuity
Under the Payment of Gratuity Act 1972, employees who have completed five or more years of continuous service are entitled to a gratuity payment on leaving, which is calculated at 15 days of the last drawn salary for each completed year. This is a statutory entitlement that applies regardless of whether the employee resigns, retires or is made redundant, and getting it wrong carries real financial and reputational risk. We ensure your obligations are properly managed throughout the employment lifecycle.
Leave entitlements
Leave entitlements in India vary by state and by sector. As a general framework, employees typically accrue Earned or Privilege Leave, Casual Leave and Sick Leave, but the number of days, carry-over rules and encashment rights differ significantly across states.
In addition, Indian maternity leave entitlements vary drastically to those of other countries. Under the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act 2017, eligible employees are entitled to 26 weeks of paid maternity leave for up to two children, with a maximum of 12 weeks for each subsequent child. There are also provisions in place for adoptive and commissioning mothers, which include 12 weeks of paid leave from the date the child is handed over.
Leap29 helps you navigate these differences in leave entitlements and ensure your policies are locally appropriate and legally sound.
The New Labour Codes
India is in the process of consolidating 44 central labour laws into four new Labour Codes, covering Wages, Industrial Relations, Social Security and Occupational Safety. While implementation remains at different stages across states, these codes will reshape how businesses manage wages, working conditions and social security contributions. Leap29 monitors progress closely and ensures your HR practices are ready for the transition well in advance.
Essential Indian HR Policies
Prevention of Sexual Harassment Act compliance
Any company with 10 or more employees is legally required to have a written sexual harassment prevention policy and a functioning Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act 2013 (POSH Act). The ICC must include an external member and be properly documented, and annual reports must be filed with the relevant District Officer.
Disciplinary and grievance procedures
A clear, written process for managing performance concerns, misconduct and employee grievances is both good practice and a legal expectation under the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act for eligible establishments. Having these in place protects both your business and your employees.
Occupational health and safety
Employers have statutory health and safety obligations under both the Factories Act 1948 and applicable state Shops and Establishments Acts. A clear workplace safety policy, documented risk management and, where required, the appointment of safety officers are all part of maintaining compliance.
Equal opportunity and non-discrimination
India’s Constitution and employment legislation prohibit discrimination on grounds including religion, gender and place of birth. A documented equal opportunity policy and clear guidelines for fair treatment at every stage of the employment lifecycle are essential for any responsible employer operating in India.
Why choose Leap29 for your India HR Services?
We act as a genuine extension of your HR team, not a distant outsourcer. Our India specialists understand the market, the minutiae of local employment law and provide practical, timely advice rather than lengthy legal disclaimers.
Our support is designed to take the pressure off your head office HR function, so your team is not left trying to navigate unfamiliar state-level regulations or second-guessing whether a particular benefit is standard practice in Maharashtra but unusual in Gujarat. Leap29 will:
- Reduce the burden on your head office HR team by handling day-to-day employee queries and escalating complex issues appropriately.
- Provide country and state-specific guidance on benefits, contracts, leave and employee relations.
- Keep pace with India’s evolving legislative landscape, including the rollout of the new Labour Codes.
- Support smooth onboarding, disciplinary processes and, where necessary, legally compliant termination procedures.
- Work alongside your payroll function or handle Indian payroll entirely, including EPF, ESI, TDS and Professional Tax.
- Advise you based on 25+ years of helping businesses expand globally, with confidence.
- Deliver a personal, responsive service.
Speak to our India HR specialists
Let us take the complexity out of Indian HR. Whether you’re hiring your first employee in Mumbai, or managing a team across multiple states, we’re ready to help. Call +44 (0) 20 8129 6860 or email expansion@leap29.com to get started today.
Don’t take our word for it!
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Talk to an expert today
Contact us today to see how Leap29 can be the trusted PEO and payroll provider that supports your global expansion.
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India
Expansion Resources
India’s Labour Codes 2025: Balancing Growth and Worker Security
India EOR Services
India PEO Services
India Entity Set Up
India Work Permits & Visas
India Employment Contracts
India Payroll Solutions
Local expertise, global reach
Employ people compliantly in 180+ countries – with or without your own foreign entities. We can help you set up and manage foreign entities – or act as an Employer of Record. We can also help with multi-country payroll and all your HR management. Wherever, whenever and however you want to employ people, we can help.
180+
We make expansion in India simple
Employing people compliantly across international borders can be challenging but we make it simple, bringing down barriers and making light work of the complexities. We offer the full range of compliant global expansion solutions so that wherever, whenever and however you want to employ people, we can support you.
EOR Services
Employ people compliantly in 180+ countries – without setting up new entities. We’ll shoulder responsibility as Employer of Record (EOR), making sure all your international employment is fully compliant.
We can also take care of your global HR from multi-country payroll to onboarding and offboarding.
Payroll Solutions
Getting global payroll right is one of the hardest challenges for any business expanding into new countries. We can shoulder this burden, freeing up valuable in-house resource to focus on growing your business.
Consider us an extension of your HR team, ready to answer all your questions large and small.
Global Mobility
Mobilise your people across borders with ease. Relocating to work abroad can feel daunting. But with Leap29 at your side, your employees can feel safe and supported.
We’ll guide your employees through the complexities of working in another country, helping them settle in fast.
Entity Services
Follow the opportunities to grow your business – wherever they take you.
We lighten the load of establishing and managing foreign entities and can help you solve all your entity challenges from running compliant, accurate multi-country payroll to local accounting and financial reporting.
PEO Solutions
Employ international talent wherever and whenever you need it – and enjoy the peace of mind of knowing you’re fully compliant. Our Professional Employer Organisation (PEO) services allow you to focus on growing your business while we handle compliance, multi-country payroll and your global HR.
Support & Advisory
The help you need to make your global growth effortless – trusted guidance and advice on your expansion challenges large and small.
HR Support
When you’re employing people in lots of different countries, answering just a simple query can take a disproportionate amount of time for your in-house HR team. Our HR Support service reduces this burden, saving you time and money and giving you the confidence of knowing your employees are well looked after, whatever their location.
Contractor Payroll
Enjoy compliant contractor payroll that meets all local requirements for tax, social security and employment legislation. We understand the importance of compliant contractor payroll to the success of your business and will pay your contractors on time, every time.
Start hiring today – and onboard within hours.
Pricing
Budget confidently with transparent, competitive fees and no hidden costs.
Want us to shoulder employer liability and take care of your global HR through our EOR solution? No problem. Just want global payroll? You can have that too. Pick the solutions that your individual business needs.