India Notifies Four Labour Codes Effective Nov 21

India's central government has notified four comprehensive labour codes, consolidating 29 existing laws into a unified framework aimed at modernizing workplace regulations and extending protections to millions of workers, including those in the gig economy. The codes, which took effect on November 21, 2024, cover wages, industrial relations, social security, and occupational safety, marking the most significant overhaul of labour legislation in decades.

The new laws replace fragmented pre-independence era rules with streamlined provisions to simplify compliance for businesses while addressing contemporary economic realities, such as the rise of platform work. Under the Code on Wages, 2019, minimum wages now apply universally across sectors, with a national floor wage set by the centre that states cannot undercut. Wages must be paid on time, with overtime compensated at double the regular rate, and gender-based pay discrimination is prohibited. The definition of wages has been standardized to include basic pay, dearness allowance, and retaining allowance, requiring these components to form at least 50 percent of an employee's total cost to company.