- By Chetna Shree
- Fri, 21 Nov 2025 05:13 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
In a significant move to strengthen worker welfare across sectors, Union Minister of Labour and Employment, Mansukh Mandaviya, on Friday announced that the Centre’s four new labour codes have been officially notified and implemented from today, November 21, 2025, guaranteeing dignity to every worker in the country.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mandaviya wrote, “From today, the new labour codes have been implemented in the country. These reforms are not just ordinary changes, but a major step taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the welfare of the workforce.”
Modi Government’s Guarantee: Dignity for Every Worker!
— Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) November 21, 2025
From today, the new labour codes have been made effective in the country. They will ensure:
✅ A guarantee of timely minimum wages for all workers
✅ A guarantee of appointment letters for the youth
✅ A guarantee of equal…
Four Labour Codes Come Into Effect, Overhauling 29 Existing Laws
The Ministry of Labour and Employment, in an official statement on 21 November, announced that the Centre has implemented four new Labour Codes with effect from today, overhauling 29 existing laws.
The new codes are:
- The Code on Wages, 2019
- The Industrial Relations Code, 2020
- The Code on Social Security, 2020
- The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020
“These new labour reforms are an important step towards a self-reliant India and will give new momentum to the goal of a developed India by 2047,” Mandaviya added.
India’s New Labour Codes: Key Highlights
- Formalisation of Employment: Mandatory appointment letters for all workers will provide written proof of employment, ensuring transparency, job security, and fixed employment terms.
- Social Security Coverage: Under the Code on Social Security, 2020, all workers, including gig and platform workers, will receive social security benefits such as Provident Fund (PF), ESIC, insurance, and other protections.
- Minimum Wages: The Code on Wages, 2019, guarantees statutory minimum wage payments for all workers, promoting financial security and timely payment.
- Healthcare: Employers must provide free annual health check-ups to all workers above 40 years, fostering a culture of preventive healthcare.
- Timely Wages: Employers are required to ensure timely wage payments, reducing financial stress and boosting productivity.
- Women's Participation: Women can work at night and in all types of work across establishments, with their consent and necessary safety measures, creating equal opportunities for high-income roles.
- ESIC Coverage Expansion: ESIC benefits will now extend Pan-India. Coverage is voluntary for establishments with fewer than 10 employees and mandatory for even one worker involved in hazardous processes, expanding social protection for all workers.
- Reduced Compliance Burden: Single registration, pan-India single license, and single return simplify compliance procedures for employers.
- Occupational Safety and Health (OSH): A National OSH Board will step up to harmonise safety and health standards across sectors. Safety commitments will be mandatory in establishments with over 500 workers.
- Higher Factory Applicability Limits: Regulatory thresholds for small units are increased to ease their burden while maintaining full worker safeguards.