How to Hire Employees in India in 2025: A Complete Guide for Global Companies

Global businesses that want to hire in India 2025 are facing a complicated legal landscape that is influenced by a movement towards formalization of the workforce and digital governance. Whether a company intends to set up a legal entity or to work with an Employer of Record (EOR), the company needs clarity regarding contract types, labor compliance and structure of operations. This guide will assist in understanding the essentials of hiring in India, supporting successful and compliant hiring practices.

How Should You Structure Your Hiring in India?

Legal Entity – By creating a private or public limited company you are free to express full control but would have to acquire a DIN, DSC, name approval, incorporation, PAN, EPFO/ESI registration and GST registration. 

Employer of Record (EOR) – A quicker option; they become the legal employer and take care of payroll, taxes, compliance and benefits. An EOR is ideal for market testing or short-term projects.

What Types of Employment Contracts Exist?

India offers various forms of contract:

Permanent Employment Contract- open ended and includes full statutory benefits.

Fixed Term Employment Contract- defined period of employment with same statutory benefits.

Temporary / Contract Labor- often provided via a third party acting under the Contract Labour Act.

Zero Hour Contract- open to flexible hours with minimum protections. 

Employment contracts should outline job roles, salary, notice period, entitlements and dispute resolution.

What Laws Do You Have To Follow?

Employers have to comply with central and state laws:

Wage Code & Maternity Benefit Act – wages and leave.

EPFO, ESI, Gratuity, Bonus Act – social contributions.

Shop hours, leave and closure according to any of the state – Shop & Establishments Acts.

How Do You Manage Payroll, Tax and Benefits?

Employers are required to:

-Contribute 12% of basic salary to EPF and ESI as applicable.

-Deduct TDS under Income Tax Act.

-Pay gratuity after 5 years of service and retrenchment compensation under the Industrial Disputes Act.

What About Foreign Employees?

Employment visas are appropriate for foreign nationals but usually only to work in managerial or skilled positions with minimum pay caps (approximately US$25,000). An applicant must register their employment visa with the FRRO within fourteen days of arrival in India. If they do not, they can face fines or deportation.

About Shamini

I’m Shamini, a writer who enjoys exploring and explaining current events. I provide detailed insights and fresh perspectives on various topics, helping readers understand the stories that matter most.

Shamini

I’m Shamini, a writer who enjoys exploring and explaining current events. I provide detailed insights and fresh perspectives on various topics, helping readers understand the stories that matter most.

Recent Posts

Migrant Workers Returning from UAE With Kidney Failure Due to Extreme Temperatures

Over the last few years, newspapers have reported that migrant workers in the UAE and other Gulf countries have come…

December 4, 2025

Philippines OFWs in Israel: Relocation & Trauma Support After 2025 Border Tensions

Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Israel have once again found themselves on the frontlines of conflict, caught between their livelihoods…

December 4, 2025

Tea Garden Workers Get Land Rights — How Land Ownership Could Change Labour Justice in Rural India

Decades after decades, tea garden laborers in India have worked and lived in the farms without owning the land the…

December 4, 2025

U.S. Executive Order Against the Muslim Brotherhood Framed as a Global Security Imperative

There has also been a concerted global push on the side of the recent U.S. Executive Order against the Muslim…

December 4, 2025

Why the UN Migration Committee’s 2025 Recommendations Could Transform Migrant-Worker Rights Worldwide

The 2025 recommendations of the UN Migration Committee represent a change in the way governments are being encouraged to treat…

December 4, 2025

From Brick Kilns to Tech Startups: India’s Contract Workers Need Fair Legal Protection

The economic growth of India has been supported by a labor force that is rather silent and unguarded. Millions of…

December 3, 2025

This website uses cookies.

Read More