The Central government has fully operationalised the country’s four labour codes after notifying the related rules in the official gazette. The move comes more than five years after the labour reforms were first introduced to modernise and simplify India’s labour law system.

The four labour codes — the Code on Wages, 2019, the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, the Code on Social Security, 2020 and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 — had already come into force on November 21, 2025. However, the complete implementation process was pending due to the absence of officially notified rules.

With the publication of these rules, the new labour framework has now become fully functional across the country. The labour codes were introduced to replace and combine 29 existing labour laws into a single and simplified structure. The reforms were aimed at making labour regulations easier to understand and implement for both workers and employers.

According to officials, some operational provisions under the new system could not be executed earlier because the rules had not been formally notified. The latest step has now cleared that gap and completed the implementation process.

Earlier in May, Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya launched a nationwide annual health check-up programme for workers aged 40 years and above under the new labour codes. Under this initiative, free health check-ups for workers above 40 will now be conducted every year across the country.

Mandaviya said the implementation of the four Labour Codes reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s guarantee of ensuring dignity, welfare and social security for workers across the country.

The Labour Minister also highlighted several key reforms introduced under the new system. He stated that provisions ensuring equal wages for men and women workers have been included. Maternity leave has also been increased from 12 weeks to 26 weeks. Along with this, work-from-home provisions for women employees have been incorporated into the framework.

The labour codes also provide for the creation of a National Reskilling Fund. The fund is meant to support workers who lose their jobs and need fresh training to find new employment opportunities.