Saurabh Mukherjee
A major overhaul of India’s labour framework is set in motion after the Union government officially notified the four Labour Codes pending since 2020. The move replaces 29 existing labour laws with a consolidated framework comprising the Code on Wages, 2019; the Industrial Relations Code, 2020; the Code on Social Security, 2020; and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020.
According to the government, the new system is intended to “enhance ease of doing business, promote employment generation, ensure safety, health, social and wage security for every worker”.
With the notification now issued, the next stage involves the Union and state governments framing rules, since labour falls under the concurrent list.
The rollout has intensified political and worker resistance. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has described the Labour Codes as “one of the most progressive labour-oriented reforms”, but farmers’ organisation All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) rejected the claim, calling the Codes a “set of regressive legislations” that would push Indian workers back to the conditions of British colonial rule.
In its Saturday statement, AIKS urged farmers and agricultural workers to burn copies of the Codes and mobilise campaigns at the rural level, calling on citizens to join the protest planned by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha on November 26.
AIKS argued that the Codes will allow the extension of the workday to 12 hours and make forming unions, collective bargaining and strikes exceedingly difficult. It alleged the reforms are designed to benefit corporate interests by weakening long-standing worker rights and protections. The organisation highlighted provisions under the Industrial Relations Code that raise the threshold for requiring government approval for retrenchment, layoffs and closure from 100 to 300 employees, opening the door to a broad “hire and fire” regime.
AIKS warned that permanent employment will sharply decline as fixed-term contracts expand, undermining job security for youth and increasing precarious work. It demanded that the Centre withdraw what it described as anti-worker measures, especially in light of widespread unemployment linked to the agrarian crisis.
The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) has sharply criticised the Union government’s press release promoting the newly notified four Labour Codes, calling the claims “deceptive” and urging their immediate repeal.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Saturday, CITU said the government’s November 21 release attempting to present the Codes as “pro-worker” and modern reforms was misleading, and instead accused the Centre of facilitating large-scale dilution of labour protections, contractualisation and “unrestrained hire-and-fire”.
The trade union body reiterated that the Labour Codes represent the most serious attack on workers’ rights since Independence, replacing long-standing protections under laws such as the Industrial Disputes Act and Factories Act.
CITU argued that instead of simplifying legislation, the Codes dismantle job security, weaken the role of labour departments and push the majority workforce, especially those in the unorganised sector, into precarious employment.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) also sharply criticised the move. In a formal response titled Revoke Labour Code, the Polit Bureau said: “The CPI(M) Polit Bureau strongly opposes the unilateral notification of the four Labour Codes by the BJP-led Central Government.”
It said the Codes dismantle 29 “hard-won labour laws” and shift the balance further in favour of employers rather than simplifying regulations.
The statement added: “The Government’s claim that the Labour Codes will boost employment and investment is completely baseless… Further, they seek to snatch away the right to strike and criminalise any collective action by the working class.”
The Polit Bureau accused the government of bypassing democratic processes by excluding trade unions and pushing the legislation through Parliament without meaningful consultation or debate. It called for united struggles to defend workers’ rights.
Some provisions in the Codes extend social protections to previously uncovered categories. Gig workers are now formally defined, with aggregator platforms required to contribute 1–2% of annual turnover toward their social security.
The Codes also mandate appointment letters for workers, establish grievance committees for women employees, allow night shifts for women with consent, and guarantee free annual health check-ups for workers over 40.
Migrant workers in the textile sector are entitled to equal pay and welfare benefits, with a three-year window to claim outstanding dues. Overtime will be paid at twice the normal wage rate.
The Congress has questioned the Codes’ viability. Party MP Jairam Ramesh criticised the notification online and argued that the reforms fail to meet demands under the party’s Shramik Nyay platform, including a national minimum wage of Rs 400, universal health coverage up to Rs 25 lakh, an urban employment guarantee, expanded social security for informal workers, and a ban on contractualisation in core government services.
Industry groups have welcomed simplified compliance norms, reduced filings, relaxed retrenchment rules and fewer licensing requirements. However, the Codes could raise operational costs through higher minimum wages and strengthened accountability on workplace safety.
A joint forum of ten national trade unions has announced a nationwide protest on November 26 demanding withdrawal of the reforms.
According to the government, the new system is intended to “enhance ease of doing business, promote employment generation, ensure safety, health, social and wage security for every worker”.
With the notification now issued, the next stage involves the Union and state governments framing rules, since labour falls under the concurrent list.
The rollout has intensified political and worker resistance. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has described the Labour Codes as “one of the most progressive labour-oriented reforms”, but farmers’ organisation All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) rejected the claim, calling the Codes a “set of regressive legislations” that would push Indian workers back to the conditions of British colonial rule.
In its Saturday statement, AIKS urged farmers and agricultural workers to burn copies of the Codes and mobilise campaigns at the rural level, calling on citizens to join the protest planned by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha on November 26.
AIKS argued that the Codes will allow the extension of the workday to 12 hours and make forming unions, collective bargaining and strikes exceedingly difficult. It alleged the reforms are designed to benefit corporate interests by weakening long-standing worker rights and protections. The organisation highlighted provisions under the Industrial Relations Code that raise the threshold for requiring government approval for retrenchment, layoffs and closure from 100 to 300 employees, opening the door to a broad “hire and fire” regime.
AIKS warned that permanent employment will sharply decline as fixed-term contracts expand, undermining job security for youth and increasing precarious work. It demanded that the Centre withdraw what it described as anti-worker measures, especially in light of widespread unemployment linked to the agrarian crisis.
The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) has sharply criticised the Union government’s press release promoting the newly notified four Labour Codes, calling the claims “deceptive” and urging their immediate repeal.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Saturday, CITU said the government’s November 21 release attempting to present the Codes as “pro-worker” and modern reforms was misleading, and instead accused the Centre of facilitating large-scale dilution of labour protections, contractualisation and “unrestrained hire-and-fire”.
The trade union body reiterated that the Labour Codes represent the most serious attack on workers’ rights since Independence, replacing long-standing protections under laws such as the Industrial Disputes Act and Factories Act.
CITU argued that instead of simplifying legislation, the Codes dismantle job security, weaken the role of labour departments and push the majority workforce, especially those in the unorganised sector, into precarious employment.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) also sharply criticised the move. In a formal response titled Revoke Labour Code, the Polit Bureau said: “The CPI(M) Polit Bureau strongly opposes the unilateral notification of the four Labour Codes by the BJP-led Central Government.”
CPI(M) Polit Bureau strongly opposes the unilateral notification of the four Labour Codes by the BJP-led Central Government. pic.twitter.com/89NUOQfYQ2
— CPI (M) (@cpimspeak) November 22, 2025
It said the Codes dismantle 29 “hard-won labour laws” and shift the balance further in favour of employers rather than simplifying regulations.
The statement added: “The Government’s claim that the Labour Codes will boost employment and investment is completely baseless… Further, they seek to snatch away the right to strike and criminalise any collective action by the working class.”
The Polit Bureau accused the government of bypassing democratic processes by excluding trade unions and pushing the legislation through Parliament without meaningful consultation or debate. It called for united struggles to defend workers’ rights.
Some provisions in the Codes extend social protections to previously uncovered categories. Gig workers are now formally defined, with aggregator platforms required to contribute 1–2% of annual turnover toward their social security.
The Codes also mandate appointment letters for workers, establish grievance committees for women employees, allow night shifts for women with consent, and guarantee free annual health check-ups for workers over 40.
Migrant workers in the textile sector are entitled to equal pay and welfare benefits, with a three-year window to claim outstanding dues. Overtime will be paid at twice the normal wage rate.
The Congress has questioned the Codes’ viability. Party MP Jairam Ramesh criticised the notification online and argued that the reforms fail to meet demands under the party’s Shramik Nyay platform, including a national minimum wage of Rs 400, universal health coverage up to Rs 25 lakh, an urban employment guarantee, expanded social security for informal workers, and a ban on contractualisation in core government services.
29 existing labour-related laws have been re-packaged into 4 codes. This is being marketed as some revolutionary reform when even the Rules have yet to be notified.
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) November 22, 2025
But will these codes make these 5 essential demands of India’s workers for Shramik Nyay a reality?
1. National…
Industry groups have welcomed simplified compliance norms, reduced filings, relaxed retrenchment rules and fewer licensing requirements. However, the Codes could raise operational costs through higher minimum wages and strengthened accountability on workplace safety.
A joint forum of ten national trade unions has announced a nationwide protest on November 26 demanding withdrawal of the reforms.
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