- India’s four Labour Codes—Code on Wages (2019), Industrial Relations Code (2020), Social Security Code (2020), and Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code (2020)—were introduced to simplify and modernize the country’s complex labour laws by merging 29 existing laws into 4 unified codes.
- The Code on Wages ensures timely and universal minimum wages for all workers, including unorganized and gig workers.
- The Industrial Relations Code aims to reduce industrial disputes by simplifying rules on hiring, retrenchment, and layoffs, while encouraging faster dispute resolution and promoting ease of doing business.
- The Social Security Code expands coverage of provident fund, ESI, maternity benefits, and gig-worker protections under a single framework.
- Meanwhile, the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code sets uniform standards for working hours, safety, health facilities, and welfare norms across industries, including migrant workers.
- Together, these Labour Codes seek to create a balanced framework that protects workers’ rights while giving employers greater flexibility, ultimately aiming to boost job creation, strengthen worker welfare, and make India’s labour system more transparent and business-friendly.
Basic Concept Key Words
1. Labour Court
A Labour Court handles disputes between workers and employers related to termination, wages, unfair dismissal, and service conditions. Its main purpose is to provide quick and affordable justice to workers at the grassroots level.
2. Industrial Tribunal
Industrial Tribunals deal with larger and more complex disputes involving industries, factories, or worker unions. These may include wage revisions, working conditions, strikes, and collective bargaining issues.
3.National Industrial Tribunal (NIT)
The National Industrial Tribunal handles industrial disputes that affect more than one state or have national importance. It functions under the central government and ensures uniform decisions on major industrial matters.
4.Industrial Relations Code, 2020
This is a new labour law that consolidates several older labour laws into one framework. It aims to simplify labour regulations and create a modern system for resolving industrial disputes.