The seminar deliberated on the key provisions relating to wages, industrial relations, social security and occupational safety and working conditions, with industry stakeholders discussing the challenges and requirements involved in implementing the new framework.

Speaking at the seminar, Dr Chandra Bhushan Kumar, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India, described the new Labour Codes as a transformational shift from a regulatory approach centred on control towards greater collaboration and facilitation between government, industry and workers. He highlighted the rationalisation of the labour framework through the consolidation of laws, reduction in provisions, digitalisation of compliance, e-portals and uniform return filing, along with greater uniformity in the definition of wages. He stressed that implementation of this once-in-a-generation reform would be a collective responsibility, requiring close coordination with states and continuous engagement with industry. He said the Ministry is undertaking a coordinated awareness and training exercise across 316 districts with industrial clusters, while state labour machinery and master trainers are also being prepared. He noted that most states have pre-published their rules and said the Ministry is working towards completing the state-level rule-making process, while also providing greater clarity on floor wages and other implementation-related issues.

Highlighting the employment and social-security dimensions of the reforms, Dr Kumar spoke about strengthening the linkage between employment, skills and job opportunities through the National Career Service and integration of employment and skilling databases, including the expansion of career lounges. He said the new framework provides a stronger basis for extending social protection to gig, platform and unorganised workers, with the Ministry working towards connecting government welfare schemes through digital platforms to identify gaps and develop sustainable, long-term labour standards. He also emphasised that continued interaction with industry is essential for evolving FAQs and addressing implementation issues. Noting the growing international interest in India’s labour reforms, he said countries in the Global South are seeking to understand India’s approach, providing an opportunity to position India as a reference point for a modern labour ecosystem. He stressed that the focus now must be on executing the reforms through consultation and coordination with states and stakeholders, with patience and a solutions-oriented approach. 

The broader implications of the reforms for workers and industry were also highlighted during the seminar. Mr Rajeev Talwar, IAS (Retd.), Director, Star Wire (I) Ltd., former CEO, DLF and former President, PHDCCI, said the implementation of the four Labour Codes must go beyond regulation to address formalisation, skilling, safety and dignity of labour and life. He emphasised the need to address affordable housing for migrant workers as urbanisation accelerates, noting that housing and access to basic services are closely linked to the education, safety and skilling of workers and their families. He also stressed that while labour reforms may increase costs for industry, higher productivity and skilling would be essential for India to remain competitive in manufacturing and services, calling for coordinated efforts by the government and private sector to strengthen worker welfare and living conditions.

Reflecting the need for greater handholding during this transition, Mr Ashish Wig, Chair, HR & IT Committee, PHDCCI, suggested that the government consider providing a one-year transition and support period to help industry adapt to the new compliance requirements. He emphasised the need to minimise confusion and potential disruption during the initial phase of implementation and proposed setting up a dedicated help desk to assist industry with queries and compliance-related issues.

The new Labour Codes mark a significant reform by expanding social security coverage, including to gig and platform workers, while decriminalising provisions that had acted as a deterrent to industry, Mr Vineet Nahata, Chair, Economics Affairs Committee, PHDCCI, said. He highlighted the focus on women’s empowerment and said the reforms are expected to foster entrepreneurship, strengthen management-labour relations and promote greater industrial harmony. He noted that industry has broadly welcomed the reforms despite the anticipated increase in compliance costs, viewing them as an important step towards strengthening India’s business environment and supporting India’s broader development objectives.

Mr Akhil Chandna, Partner & Leader, Grant Thornton Bharat, in his presentation, provided an overview of the transition from 29 central labour laws to four Labour Codes and the key developments in their implementation, including government notifications and FAQs. He highlighted how industry has been preparing through workforce and impact assessments, policy alignment, wage and social security reviews, and strengthening of governance and compliance systems. He also outlined areas requiring continued clarity, including state-wise rules, compliance requirements, worker classification, overtime, workforce composition, social security and worker support mechanisms. Drawing on Grant Thornton Bharat’s work with over 500 clients and a survey involving more than 5,000 participants, he highlighted the industry’s transition from initial readiness towards sustained adoption of the new Labour Codes.

Addressing the seminar, Dr Ranjeet Mehta, CEO and Secretary General, PHDCCI, said that as India seeks to establish leadership in manufacturing and services, strong and future-ready workplaces and effective implementation of the new Labour Codes will be critical. He emphasised that the framework must be simple and easy to understand, particularly for MSMEs, which are the backbone of the Indian economy, enabling them to comply without excessive dependence on legal advisors. He called for practical, sector-specific compliance checklists, greater investment in awareness and training programmes for HR teams, factory managers and contractors at the district, block and industrial-estate levels, and continued government-industry dialogue and feedback during implementation to address practical challenges and help businesses understand and adopt the new framework effectively. 

Dr Jatinder Singh, Deputy Secretary General, PHDCCI, emphasised the need for greater awareness and clarity among industry and stakeholders on the new compliance framework. He noted that the transition should be supported through continued Government-industry dialogue and practical guidance to help businesses understand and adapt to the new provisions while ensuring the intended benefits of the reforms reach workers and employers.

The seminar featured technical sessions on “The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 and the Code on Wages, 2019” and “The Code on Social Security, 2020 and the Industrial Relations Code, 2020,” providing participants with a detailed understanding of the key provisions, compliance requirements and practical implications of the four Labour Codes. 

The deliberations concluded with a shared emphasis on ensuring that the transition to the new Labour Codes is supported by clarity, awareness, capacity building and sustained consultation. The seminar reinforced the need for continued government-industry engagement and practical implementation guidance to enable businesses, particularly MSMEs, to adapt effectively while advancing the broader objectives of worker welfare, social security, employment generation and a more streamlined labour compliance framework.