Lok Sabha Question No. 4051 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-18
Subject: Four Labour Codes
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Ms. Mahua Moitra

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4051 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.08.2025

## FOUR LABOUR CODES

## 4051. MS MAHUA MOITRA:

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

- (a)the  status  of  implementation  of  the  four  Labour  Codes  across  the country, States/UT-wise;
- (b)whether the Government acknowledges that despite merging 29 preexisting  laws  into  four  labour  codes  the  Wages,  Social  Security, Occupational Safety and Health along with Industrial Relations Codes, the  said  reforms  largely  continue  to  exclude  the  vast  majority  of Indian  workers  employed  in  informal  sectors  with  only  the  Wages Code  and  parts  of  the  Social  Security  Code  extending  nominal coverage to them and if so, the details thereof;
- (c)whether  it  is  a  fact  that  critical  sectors-such  as  construction, agriculture, home-based work and contract labour-remain outside the ambit of essential rights like safety, regulated working hours, freedom
- to strike and guaranteed minimum wages under the new Codes;
- (d)the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  incorporate feedback from Trade Unions, State Governments and informal sector representatives prior to notifying rules; and
- (e)whether  the  Government  intends  to  revise  or  supplement  these Codes,  either  through  amendments  or  new  legislation  to  ensure universal  minimum  wages,  worker  safety,  enforceable  rights  to collective bargaining and the right to strike for all informal and gig economy workers comparable to protections in the formal sector and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)

- (a): 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. 'Labour' as a subject is in the Concurrent List of the Constitution of India and under the Labour Codes, the power to make rules has been entrusted to Central Government as well as State

Governments.  As  a  step  towards  implementation  of  the  four  Labour Codes, the Central Government has pre-published the draft Rules. As per available information, 34, 33, 33 and 33 States/Union Territories have pre-published  the  draft  Rules  under  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 respectively.

- (b) & (c): The  Labour  Codes  strengthen  the  protection  available  to workers, including unorganized workers in terms of statutory minimum wage, social security and healthcare of workers. The Code on Wages, 2019 has universalized statutory right for minimum wages and timely payment  of  wages  to  all  workers  to  support  sustainable  growth  and inclusive  development.  The  Occupational  Safety,  Health  and  Working Conditions  Code,  2020  provides  the  provisions  for  building  workers, contract labours etc. to ensure safety, health and working conditions of these  workers.  Besides,  the  Code  on  Social  Security,  2020  aims  to extend social security benefits to all workers both in the organised and unorganized sectors. The provisions introduced in the Code on Social Security, 2020 to enhance coverage of social security are as follows :
- i.        The coverage of Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has been extended pan-India as against notified districts/areas.  Further, ESIC coverage on voluntary basis for establishments having less than 10 employees has been introduced. Further, benefits under ESIC can also be made applicable to an establishment which carries on hazardous or life  threatening  occupation  as  notified  by  the  Central  Government,  in which even a single employee is employed.
- ii.        The  Code  envisages  a  Social  Security  Fund  for  formulating schemes  for  welfare  of  the  unorganized  workers,  gig  workers  and platform workers.
- iii.        The Central Government has been empowered to extend benefits to  unorganized  workers,  gig  workers  and  platform  workers  and  the members of their families through ESIC or Emplo yees' Provident Fund Organization.
- (d): Three  tripartite meetings;  inviting representatives  of all Central  Trade  Unions  and  Employers'  Associations;  were  also convened  to  discuss  the  draft  Rules  framed  under  the  4  Labour Codes  on  24th  December,  2020,  12th  January,  2021  and  20th January, 2021 respectively.
- (e): There is no proposal to amend the aforesaid Labour Codes.

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