Punjab Employment Subsidy (Women/SC)

Under the Industrial and Business Development Policy 2022, an enhanced Employment Generation Subsidy of Rs 48,000 per employee per year is payable — above the standard rate — for employees who are women domiciled in Punjab or who belong to the SC/BC/OBC categories. The subsidy runs for a maximum of 5 years from the date of commercial production. Direct recruitment and coverage under PF/ESIC are conditions the employee must meet.

For a unit working out its hiring mix, the enhanced rate translates into a straight payroll offset on each qualifying hire. Category and domicile records are therefore best captured at the onboarding stage, rather than pieced together later when the claim is filed.

- Enrol the unit on the Invest Punjab Business First portal. - File an application for the Employment Generation Subsidy under the Industrial and Business Development Policy 2022. - Provide payroll records together with domicile and category certificates for every qualifying employee, along with PF/ESIC returns. - Lodge the claim for each eligible year, counted from the date of commercial production.