India one step closer to rationalising its labour laws

India is one step closer to rationalising its labour laws. The Ministry of Labour and Employment has finalised rules under the four codes of wages, industrial relations, social security, and occupational safety, health and working conditions (OSH).

The codes have already received the president’s assent been notified. But in order to be implemented, the government needed to complete the process of consultation on the draft rules.

“We have finalised the rules under the four codes, which is 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 told PTI.

Parliament passed the Code on Wages in 2019. the three other codes got clearance from both the Houses last year.

The ministry wants to implement all four codes in one go.

At a press conference on February 8, Chandra had said: “The rule-making process is already under way and likely to be completed in the coming weeks. All stakeholders were consulted in the framing of rules.”

Since labour is a concurrent subject, states will also frame certain rules under the four codes. They are also in the process of notifying draft rules and holding talks to firm up those for implementation.

– With inputs from PTI