Labor Codes India: Important steps towards labor reforms: Labor codes are expected to be fully implemented from April 1 next year. The ministry has started the process of implementing the rules under the notified law. The government notified four labor codes namely, Wage Code, 2019, Industrial Relations Code, 2020, Social Security Code, 2020 and Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 on November 21.

Statement of Labor and Employment Minister

To implement any law, the government is required to notify rules under it. Before this, the Central and State Governments are required to publish the draft rules for public feedback before publishing them.

Labor and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, while addressing CII IndiaEdge 2025 on Wednesday, said that the draft rules under the four labor codes will be made public soon before they are published.

He said that earlier the central government and states had already made the draft rules public, but that was a long time ago. Now there is a need to make the draft in line with the present times. Before publishing the draft rules, the government will allow 45 days for public comments before finalizing them for notification, a senior official said. The official also said that the government aims to implement rules for the implementation of these four codes from the beginning of the new financial year i.e. from April 1.

There will be 8 hours working day for employees

The minister, while answering questions during a session at the conference, said that under the new codes the working hours for an employee is still eight hours a day. In this major labor reform, 29 existing labor laws have been made consistent and integrated into it.

Mandaviya said the new framework provides the employee with the option of ‘overtime’, which is an international practice. The minister also mentioned the government’s intention to meet the target of providing social security to 100 crore workers by March 2026. Currently it is Rs 94 crore. Social security coverage has increased from 19 percent in 2015 to more than 64 percent in 2025.

Also read: Proper use of gold during emergency, is it better to sell it or take a loan? Know details

Labor Codes India: Describing the government’s decision to implement the four labor codes as a historic step, the industry on Friday said that this is a big step towards a modern, simplified and future-ready labor environment.

Chandrajit Banerjee, director general of industry body Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), described this reform as a ‘milestone’ for India’s labor scenario. He said that, this will modernize, simplify and prepare the economy for the future.

What did the Director General say?

Banerjee said, ‘The implementation of the four labor codes is a big step towards a modern, simplified and future-ready labor environment.’ He said that by consolidating 29 different laws, these codes ensure better wages, stronger social security, workplace safety and a more trustworthy regulatory environment for the industry.

This reform is in line with global standards, which will strengthen the foundation of higher productivity and accelerated employment creation. The government notified all four labor codes in a historic decision on Friday.

What are the major changes?

Through this major reform, 29 existing labor laws have been rationalized. This includes provisions like universal social security coverage for gig workers, mandatory appointment letters for all employees and statutory minimum wages and timely payment in all sectors.

Harsh Vardhan Agarwal, president of industry body FICCI, said, ‘The four labor codes make doing business easier, simplify compliance and support the growth of the industry. It also strengthens workers’ welfare, social security and transparency. FICCI Director General Jyoti Vij said that these codes will increase the competitive capabilities of the industry.

He said that, from the workers’ welfare point of view, these codes ensure minimum wages for all, better workplace safety, annual health check-up, maternity and social security protection, as well as safe night shift opportunities for women. He described these reforms as a ‘transformative step’ towards ‘developed India’.

Also read: SEBI’s big statement on digital gold! Investors should be careful, otherwise there will be huge losses.