Centre rolls out 4 labour codes: Women can work night shifts in any sector, equal work for equal pay becomes law

India on Friday embarked on the path to creating future-ready workforce with the Central government giving effect to four labour codes that subsume the existing and disparate 29 labour laws.

Mandatory appointment letters to all workers across organised and unorganised sectors, guaranteed minimum wage and social security to everyone, including gig and platform workers, compulsory payment of wages and opening up of night shift work for women in all sectors are the hallmarks of the new codes which around 20 states have already rolled out, labour being a concurrent subject.

The codes also require employers to ensure annual health check-ups for all workers above 40 years of age.

ESIC coverage and benefits will now be extended Pan-India, though these will be voluntary for establishments with fewer than 10 employees, and mandatory for establishments with even one employee engaged in hazardous processes.

“Social protection coverage will be expanded to all workers. ESIC coverage was so far limited to notified areas and specific industries; establishments with fewer than 10 employees were generally excluded, and hazardous-process units did not have uniform mandatory ESIC coverage across India,” officials said.

Prime minister Narendra Modi hailed the labour reforms

“Shramev Jayate! Today, our Government has given effect to the Four Labour Codes. It is one of the most comprehensive and progressive labour-oriented reforms since Independence. It greatly empowers our workers. It also significantly simplifies compliance and promotes ‘Ease of Doing Business,” PM said.

Labour minister Mansukh Mandaviya said the codes will guarantee dignity for every worker.

“From today, the new labour codes have been made effective in the country. They will ensure guarantees of — timely minimum wages for all workers, letters for the youth, equal pay and respect for women, social security for 40 crore workers, gratuity for fixed-term employees after one year of employment, free annual health check-ups for workers above 40 years of age, double wages for overtime, 100 per cent health security for workers in hazardous sectors, social justice for workers as per international standards,” Mandaviya said.

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 — will be effective from November 21, rationalising 29 existing labour laws.