The Central Government has formally notified all four Labour Codes, marking one of the most comprehensive reforms in India’s labour governance framework since Independence.
Simplified Labour Reforms
- Labour Codes expand social protection to gig, platform, and informal workers, promote equal pay for men and women, and legally recognise fixed-term employment.
- They aim to improve worker welfare by strengthening workplace safety standards and widening access to social security benefits.
- A total of 29 old and fragmented labour laws have been merged into four modern Labour Codes to reduce complexity and make laws more relevant to today’s economy.
Government’s Vision of Inclusive Labour Reform
- The Prime Minister termed the notification as a landmark move, enabling a modern and equitable labour ecosystem that balances worker welfare with economic growth.
- Towards Worker Empowerment: The reforms aim to provide universal social security, timely and guaranteed wage payments, formalisation of employment, and safe working environments, especially in manufacturing and service sectors.
- Ease of Doing Business: The Labour Minister, Mansukh Mandaviya, emphasized that simplified compliance norms under the new Codes would attract domestic and global investment and facilitate employment creation.
- State Participation: Most States have framed draft rules, and the Centre is providing support to ensure smooth implementation of the Codes across federal jurisdictions.
Worker Rights & Protection
- Women’s Employment: Permission for women to work night shifts with adequate safety measures.
- Health & Social Security: Mandatory annual health check-ups for workers above 40; expansion of ESIC coverage to all districts and hazardous sectors.
- National Floor Wage: Establishment of a national minimum wage to prevent exploit
Structural and Compliance Reforms
- Single Compliance Mechanism: One registration, one licence, and one return system for employers.
- National OSH Board: Standardised norms for workplace safety and occupational health.
Inclusive Labour Classifications
- Recognition of gig workers, platform workers, and aggregators for the first time under law.
- Plantation workers included under Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSHWC) Code.
Employment Modernisation
- Fixed-Term Employment: Workers on fixed-term contracts eligible for all benefits similar to permanent employees.
- Universal Account Number (UAN): Aadhaar-linked UAN enables portability of benefits across regions and jobs.
Employment Modernisation
- Fixed-Term Employment: Workers on fixed-term contracts eligible for all benefits similar to permanent employees.
- Universal Account Number (UAN): Aadhaar-linked UAN enables portability of benefits across regions and jobs.
This topic is available in detail on our main website.
