New Four Labour Codes 2020 – Labour Reforms

The Second National Commission on Labour has recommended to review and make necessary amendment in the Labour Laws and accordingly the Ministry of Labour has taken steps to make Four Labour Codes by amending the existing 44 Labour Laws.

Four Labour Codes

1) The Code on Wages, 2019

The Code on Wages, 2019 was the first among Four Labour Codes introduced in Lok Sabha on 23 July 2019 and was passed on 30 July 2019. The Bill was passed in Rajya Sabha on 2 August 2019. It received Presidential assent on 8 August 2019.

Aim: It aims to regulate wage and bonus payments in all employments (industry, business, trade and manufacture).

Laws Replaced: The Code on Wages replaces 4 existing Laws:
(a) Minimum Wages Act, 1948
(b) Payment of Wages Act, 1936
(c) Payment of Bonus Act, 1965
(d) Equal Remuneration Act, 1976

2) The Industrial Relations Code, 2020

The Industrial Relations Code, 2020 was introduced in Lok Sabha on 19 September 2020 and was passed on 22 September 2020. The Bill was passed in Rajya Sabha on 23 September 2020. It received Presidential assent on 28 September 2020.

Aim: It aims to consolidate and amend the laws relating to Trade Unions, conditions of employment in industrial establishment or undertaking, investigation and settlement of industrial disputes.

Laws Replaced: The Industrial Relations Code, 2020 replaced 3 existing laws:
(a) the Trade Unions Act, 1926
(b) The Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946
(c) The Industrial Disputes Act, 1947.

3.The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020

The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 was introduced in Lok Sabha on 19 September 2020 and was passed on 22 September 2020. The Bill was passed in Rajya Sabha on 23 September 2020. It received Presidential assent on 28 September 2020.

Aim: The code aims to consolidate and amend the laws regulating the occupational safety, health and working conditions of the persons employed in an establishment and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

Laws Replaced: The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 replaces 13 existing Laws:
(a) The Factories Act, 1948
(b) The Mines Act, 1952
(c) The Dock Workers (Safety, Health and Welfare) Act, 1986
(d) The Building and Other Construction Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1996
(e) The Plantations Labour Act, 1951

(f) The Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970
(g) The Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979
(h) The Working Journalist and other News Paper Employees (Conditions of Service) and
Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1955
(i) The Working Journalists (Fixation of rates of wages) Act, 1958
(j) The Motor Transport Workers Act, 1961
(k) The Sales Promotion Employees (Condition of Service) Act, 1976
(l) The Beedi and Cigar Workers (Conditions of Employment) Act, 1966
(m) The Cine-Workers and Cinema Theatre Workers Act, 1981.

4) The Code on Social Security, 2020

The Code on Social Security, 2020 was introduced in Lok Sabha on 19 September 2020 and was passed on 22 September 2020. The Bill was passed in Rajya Sabha on 23 September 2020. It received Presidential assent on 28 September 2020.

Aim: It aims to extend social security to all employees and workers either in the organised or unorganised or any other sectors.

Laws Replaced: The Code on Social Security, 2020 replaces 9 existing laws:
(a) The Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952
(b) Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972
(c) Employees’ Compensation Act, 1923
(d) Maternity Benefit Act, 1961
(e) Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948
(f) Workers Cess Act, 1996
(g) Cine Workers Welfare Fund Act, 1981
(h) Building and Other Construction and Unorganised Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008
(i) Employment Exchanges (Compulsory Notification of Vacancies) Act, 1959

4 labour codes pdf

Read : New labour code implementation date