The Government of India has officially brought the four new labour codes into effect, marking a major milestone in modernising and simplifying the country’s labour ecosystem. These reforms aim to strengthen worker welfare, improve transparency, and promote fair employment practices across sectors. The new codes ensure timely minimum wages for all workers, mandatory appointment letters for new employees, and equal pay provisions to promote gender equity. They also extend social security benefits to nearly 400 million workers, including gig, platform, and unorganised sector workers. Fixed-term employees will now be eligible for gratuity after just one year of service, while workers aged above 40 will receive free annual health check-ups.
The codes further mandate double wages for overtime, full health protection for those employed in hazardous industries, and stronger safeguards aligned with international standards of social justice. Together, these reforms represent a significant step toward a more inclusive, secure, and future-ready workforce, supporting India’s vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047.
