Labour law advisory & compliances

Government of India implements four new labour codes: A landmark reform in labour governance

On 21 November 2025, the Government of India took a historic step by implementing the long-awaited four Labour Codes — Code on Wages (2019), Industrial Relations Code (2020), Code on Social Security (2020), and Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code (2020).

This landmark reform comes nearly five years after their initial introduction and represents a major overhaul of India’s labour governance framework. By consolidating 29 existing labour laws into a simplified and unified structure, these Codes aim to enhance regulatory clarity, improve compliance efficiency, and address evolving workforce dynamics. The move underscores the government’s commitment to modernising labour regulations, ensuring better protection for workers while enabling ease of doing business for employers across sectors.

With the notification on 21 November 2025, the uncertainty surrounding the enforcement of the Labour Codes has now been resolved. Consequently, the substantive phase begins — encompassing transition, interpretation, formulation of rules, development of schemes and standards, and their effective implementation at the ground level.