New Delhi, Nov 21 (NationPress) In a historic move, the government has declared the enforcement of four significant Labour Codes aimed at simplifying and modernizing labor regulations to ensure improved wages, worker safety, social security, and enhanced welfare for India’s labor force.

The four Labour Codes comprise 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, effective from November 21, 2025, consolidating 29 existing labor laws.

This initiative addresses the long-overdue requirement to move past colonial-era frameworks and synchronize with contemporary global practices.

The introduction of these Labour Codes mandates that employers provide appointment letters to all workers, delivering written confirmation that fosters transparency, job security, and stable employment. Previously, such letters were not obligatory.

Under the Code on Social Security, 2020, every worker, including those in the gig and platform economy, will receive social security benefits. This includes provident fund (PF), Employee State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) coverage, insurance, and other benefits. Previously, social security coverage was quite limited.

With the Code on Wages, 2019, every worker is entitled to a legal minimum wage, ensuring timely payment and financial security. Previously, minimum wage regulations were applicable only to specific industries, leaving many workers without coverage.

The Labour Codes also require employers to provide free annual health check-ups for all workers over 40, fostering a proactive healthcare culture. Previously, there were no legal obligations for such health check-ups.

Additionally, employers must ensure timely wage payments to support financial stability, reduce workplace stress, and enhance overall morale among workers. Prior to this, there was no legal requirement for timely payment of wages.

The new legislation allows women to work at night and in all sectors, subject to their consent and safety protocols. Women will also have equal access to high-paying job opportunities, breaking previous restrictions on night shifts and certain job roles.

The Labour Codes expand ESIC coverage nationwide, making it voluntary for businesses with fewer than 10 employees and compulsory for those employing even one worker in hazardous roles. Previously, ESIC coverage was confined to specific industries and geographic areas, often excluding smaller establishments.

These codes also simplify compliance for workers, allowing for a single registration process, a unified license across India, and a single return filing. Before this, multiple registrations and licenses were necessary under various labor laws.

Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya emphasized that, “These reforms represent a substantial shift initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the benefit of the workforce. These new labor reforms are crucial for a self-reliant India and will propel the objective of a developed India by 2047.”

By modernizing labor laws, enhancing worker welfare, and aligning the labor framework with the changing nature of work, this transformative initiative sets the stage for a future-ready workforce and stronger, resilient industries that drive labor reforms for Aatmanirbhar Bharat, he added.

Many of India’s labor laws originated in the pre-Independence and early post-Independence periods (1930s–1950s), when the economy and workplace dynamics were fundamentally different. While most leading economies have updated and consolidated their labor regulations in recent years, India has continued to function under fragmented, complex, and often outdated rules spread across 29 Central labor laws.

These outdated frameworks have struggled to keep pace with the evolving economic landscape and new forms of employment, causing uncertainty and increasing compliance burdens for both workers and employers. The four Labour Codes address the need to move beyond archaic regulations and align with global best practices. Collectively, these Codes empower both workers and businesses, creating a workforce that is protected, productive, and in sync with the changing world of work — paving the way for a more resilient, competitive, and self-sufficient nation.