The Centre has fully operationalised the four labour codes after notifying the rules required for their implementation, completing a process that began more than five years ago.
The four labour codes, which came into effect on November 21, 2025, were introduced to consolidate and modernise 29 existing labour laws into a unified framework.
The codes include 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 an official, the rules under all four codes have now been published in the official gazette, making the new legal framework fully operational.
The draft rules had earlier been released on December 30, 2025, for stakeholder feedback before undergoing legal vetting.
Officials said the reforms aim to simplify labour regulations, improve ease of doing business, generate employment, and strengthen wage, health, and social security protections for workers.
Since labour falls under the Concurrent List, both the Centre and states are required to notify their respective rules for implementation across the country.
The new labour framework includes provisions for mandatory appointment letters, free health check-ups for workers aged 40 and above, and equal pay and opportunities for women working different shifts.
The codes also provide for the creation of a National Reskilling Fund to support workers who lose their jobs.
Under the notified rules, weekly working hours have been capped at 48 hours. Employees are also entitled to at least one weekly rest day and overtime pay for work beyond prescribed hours.
“The total number of weekly working hours shall not exceed forty-eight hours,” the rules state.