Four Labour Codes
Consolidation and Effective Date
India's labour law framework was overhauled by consolidating 29 central labour laws into four codes: the Code on Wages (2019), the Industrial Relations Code (2020), the Code on Social Security (2020), and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSH) Code (2020). All four codes were brought into force with effect from 21 November 2025, replacing a fragmented body of legislation that had accumulated since the early twentieth century.
- Code on Wages, 2019 — merges the Payment of Wages Act, Minimum Wages Act, Payment of Bonus Act, and Equal Remuneration Act
- Industrial Relations Code, 2020 — merges the Trade Unions Act, Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, and Industrial Disputes Act
- Code on Social Security, 2020 — merges the EPF Act, ESI Act, Maternity Benefit Act, and Employees' Compensation Act, among others
- OSH Code, 2020 — merges the Factories Act, Contract Labour Act, and several other safety-related statutes
- Codes notified as effective from 21 November 2025, but full implementation also requires matching Central and State rules
● Tracked since February 09, 2026 · last seen September 24, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
30 Apr '26
India's Four Labour Codes: What the New Regime Means for Workers Without a Wage Floor
Economics
29 Mar '26
India's Four Labour Codes Set for April Rollout, Extending Social Security to Gig Workers
Economics
See it in today’s brief.
Daily current affairs with every static concept explained in place.
Read the daily brief