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Significant labor and employment law reforms passed by India’s parliament in September 2020, and could take effect soon.

 

The numerous labor laws covering social security, wage laws, occupational health and safety, and industrial relations have been consolidated into four codes — to simplify employers’ compliance, expand certain protections to new industry sectors and categories of workers, and establish stronger enforcement mechanisms.

The four labor codes

 

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  • Codes on Wages, 2019

    Status

    • Passed by Parliament
    • Presidential assent received
    • Central Rules - Draft rules published
    • Expected Implementation 2021

    Summary

    • Subsumes four Labour Acts related to wages and allied areas
    • Rationalizes procedures and compliances with respect to wages and allied areas

     

 

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  • Code on Social Security 2020

    Status

    • Passed by Parliament
    • Presidential assent received
    • Central Rules - Draft rules published
    • Expected Implementation 2021

    Summary

    • Subsumes nine Labour Acts related to social security and it's applicability and delivery
    • Effects changes to compliances and procedure with respect to social security 

 

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  • Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code 2020

    Status

    • Passed by Parliament
    • Presidential assent received
    • Central Rules - Draft rules published
    • Expected Implementation 2021

    Summary

    • Subsumes thirteen Labour Acts related to OS, H and WC and their delivery
    • Standardizes regulation related to work conditions across employers

 

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  • Industrial Relations Code 2020

    Status

    • Passed by Parliament
    • Presidential assent received
    • Central Rules - Draft rules published
    • Expected Implementation 2021

    Summary

    • Subsumes three Labour Acts related to IR and their conduct
    • Rationalizes procedures and compliances with respect to IR and ER 

  • Code on Wages, 2019

    This code was enacted in 2019, but it will take effect at the same time as the three other codes. The code establishes a minimum wage that can vary by region, extends wage protections to all employees, sets out permitted wage deductions by employers, prohibits gender pay discrimination for work of a similar nature, and requires wage payments to be daily, weekly, fortnightly or monthly.

  • Code on Social Security, 2020

    This code expands social security coverage to all workers, including those in nontraditional employment relationships, such as independent contractors and gig economy workers. Social security benefits must include insurance to cover accidents, life, disability, health, old age, maternity benefits, child care, and gratuity (an employer payment given on the employee’s retirement or earlier, subject to meeting certain conditions).

  • Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020

    This code applies to all employers with 10 or more workers, requiring employers to register on a centralized database. Employee protections will apply to a wider range of organizations, and will include working hours, leave entitlement, overtime hours and pay, and weekly rest periods.

  • Industrial Relations Code, 2020

    This code covers most employers (with some specified exclusions) and addresses trade union rights, including requiring employers to recognize a negotiating union to represent the employees, and the settlement of industrial disputes. The code also revises the rules on retrenchments and will require employers with 300 or more workers (up from 100) to obtain prior permission from labor authorities before making layoffs. A new worker reskilling fund will pay a benefit to retrenched workers.

Related resources

Non-Mercer resources

Mercer Law & Policy resource

India’s parliament passes wage protections (14 Aug 2019)

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