Labour Reforms To Soon Be Reality: Ministry Finalises Rules Required To Implement New Labour Codes

Labour reforms will soon be a reality as the Labour and Employment Ministry has finalised rules for four codes pertaining to wages, industrial relations, social security and occupational safety, health & working conditions (OSH), Press Trust of India has reported.

The codes have already received President Ram Nath Kovind's ascent and will be implemented after the Ministry notifies the rules.

"We have finalised the rules under the four codes which are required to implement the four labour codes. We are ready to notify these rules. The states are doing their work to firm up rules under the four codes", Labour Secretary Apurva Chandra has been quoted as saying.

These four labour codes will subsume the existing 44 central laws which currently dictate labour laws, thereby bringing much needed simplification in this area.

The development gains significance as the Ministry is looking to implement the four labour code reforms from 1 April in one go.

The Labour Ministry is also set to launch a dedicated portal for informal workers by May or June. this would help in formulating schemes for migrant workers in areas like health, housing, skill development, insurance, credit and food et cetera. The portal would collect and collate relevant information on gig, building and construction workers among others.