Lok Sabha Question No. 809 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-12
Subject: New Labour Code
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Sisir Kumar Adhikari

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 809 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.12.2022

## NEW LABOUR CODE

## 809.  SHRI SISIR KUMAR ADHIKARI:

Will  the  Minister  of  LABOUR  AND  EMPLOYMENT  be  pleased  to state:

- (a)whether the Government is going to implement new labour code in the country;
- (b)if so, the details thereof;
- (c)whether  the  new  labour  laws  could  bring  a  lot  of  changes  in  the salary restructure, provident fund and gratuity, working hours, and leaves therein; and
- (d)if  so,  the  details  thereof  indicating  the  ways  whereby  new  labour laws  will  going  to  be  beneficial  for  the  employees  of  our  country therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

- (a) & (b): The Government has formulated four Labour Codes, namely, 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  and  published  these  Codes  in  the Official Gazette for general information. As a step towards implementation of the four Labour Codes, the Central and a number of State Governments have pre-published the draft Rules, inviting comments of all stakeholders.
- (c) & (d): The four Labour Codes envisage strengthening the protection available to workers, including unorganized workers in terms of statutory minimum wage, social security and healthcare of workers.  Some of the important provisions are as follows:-

Contd..2/-

-  A  statutory  right  for  minimum  wages  and  timely  payment  of wages  has  been  made  available  to  all  workers  to  support sustainable growth and inclusive development.
-  To avoid multiple interpretations and litigations, uniform definition of 'wages' across all the four Labour Codes has been provided that is simple, coherent and easy to enforce.
-  Provision  for  annual  health  check-up  and  medical  facilities  has also been made which enhances labour productivity and increases life expectancy.
-  Statutory  provision  has  been  made  for  the  first  time  to  issue appointment letter to every employee of the establishment which leads  to  formalized  contract  of  employment  that  increases  job security  and  enables  a  worker  to  claim  statutory  benefits  such as minimum wages, social security etc .
-  Provision of Re-skilling Fund for skill development of workers.
-  The  gig  worker  and  the  platform  worker  have  been  defined  for the  purpose  of  formulating  schemes  to  provide  social  security benefits.  Social  security  schemes  can  be  formulated  from  the contribution  of  aggregators  and  the  other  sources  can  include funds from the Central and State Governments.
-  The  Central  Government  may  extend  benefits  to  unorganised workers, gig workers and platform workers and the members of their families through Employees' State Insurance Corporation or Employees' Provident Fund Organization
-  A  worker  engaged  under  Fixed  Term  Employment  (FTE)  is entitled  for  all  the  benefits  which  are  available  to  permanent employees  and  has  also  been  made  eligible  for  gratuity  if  he renders service for a period of one year
-  Every  worker  is  entitled  to  annual  leave  with  wages  after working  for  180  days  in  comparison  to  240  days  at  present. Provision for encashment of leave on demand by a worker while in service at the end of calendar year
-  Applicability of Employees' Provident Fund has been extended to all industries as against scheduled industries at present.

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