What Are the Latest Trends in Labour Laws in India?

Labour laws in India have undergone a sea change in the recent past, reflecting the changing socio-economic landscape of the country. These changes have been aimed at simplifying the regulations, promoting ease of doing business, and taking care of the welfare of workers in a fast-changing economic environment. Here, we explore the latest trends in labour laws in India and their implications for employers and employees.

1. Consolidation of Labour Laws

The most significant Indian labour law is the consolidation of 29 existing laws into four labour codes:

• The Code on Wages, 2019: Contains minimum wages, payment of wages, equal remuneration, and bonus payments.

• The Industrial Relations Code, 2020: Focuses on trade unions, industrial disputes, and worker-employer relations.

• Code on Social Security, 2020: Seeks to cover social security to unorganized workers, gig workers, and platform workers.

• Occupational Safety, Health, and Working Conditions Code, 2020: Safeguarding work environments and conditions in general industries

The codes further ease compliance and aim at striking a balance between the rights of the worker and the promotion of industrial growth.

2. Emphasis on Gig and Platform Workers