India Implements Four Labour Codes Overhaul

India's government on Friday implemented four comprehensive labour codes, marking a major overhaul of the country's outdated regulations to modernize worker protections and boost economic growth. The move, effective November 21, 2025, consolidates 29 fragmented laws from the colonial and early post-independence eras into a unified framework covering wages, industrial relations, social security, and occupational safety.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the reforms on social media platform X, stating they would provide "a strong foundation for universal social security, minimum and timely payment of wages, safe workplaces and remunerative opportunities." Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya echoed this, describing the codes as a guarantee of "dignity for every worker" and a key step toward a self-reliant India by 2047. The four codes—the Code on Wages 2019, Industrial Relations Code 2020, Code on Social Security 2020, and Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code 2020—aim to simplify compliance for businesses while extending benefits to millions, including gig and platform workers, women, youth, migrants, and those in unorganized sectors.