New Labour Codes will help protect workers’ interests and boost jobs, says Union Minister

Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment Shobha Karandlaje on Tuesday said that the new Labour Codes are aimed at safeguarding workers’ rights, expanding employment opportunities and creating a balanced, industry-friendly environment across the country.

Inaugurating a two-day Regional Conference of Labour and Employment and Industry Secretaries of States and Union Territories in the city, the Union Minister described the consolidation of 29 colonial-era labour laws into four comprehensive Labour Codes as a historic reform.

She said the codes, which came into force on November 21, would bring far-reaching changes to the lives of workers and employers by ensuring transparency, compliance and technology-driven governance.

Highlighting the key provisions, Ms. Karandlaje said the new laws ensure equal pay for equal work for women, mandate payment of wages within a week of completion of work. For the first time, social security coverage has been extended to gig, platform and unorganised sector workers.

She said deliberations were under way to extend EPFO and ESI benefits to nearly 90% of unorganised workers. Provisions such as web-based inspections, decriminalisation of minor offences, uniform definitions and work-from-home options would improve ease of doing business while protecting the labour welfare.

Noting that labour is largely a State subject, the Union Minister emphasised cooperative federalism. She called for stronger Centre–State coordination, early finalisation of rules, integration of IT systems, capacity building of field officials and effective last-mile awareness.

Andhra Pradesh Labour Minister Vasamsetti Subhash said the State has expanded ESIC healthcare infrastructure, strengthened digital services and organised workplace medical camps to improve worker health and transparency.

Senior officials from southern States, Puducherry and the NCT of Delhi participated in the conference, which included discussions on rule-making, IT preparedness and on-ground implementation.