Labour Minister of State, Shobha Karandlaje, recently informed Parliament that five states are yet to pre-publish draft rules under three Labour Codes on Industrial Relations, Social Security, and Occupational Safety.
This delay is a significant hurdle in the implementation of the labour reforms aimed at simplifying and modernizing the country’s labour laws.
Background on Labour Codes and Current Status
The Labour Codes were introduced to consolidate 29 existing laws into four comprehensive codes.
These include 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.
The central government has already pre-published draft rules for these codes and held tripartite consultations to ensure a smooth implementation.
As per the latest information, 32 states and Union Territories have pre-published draft rules for the Code on Wages, 2019.
31 states and Union Territories have done the same for the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, the Code on Social Security, 2020, and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020.
However, five states are lagging behind in pre-publishing the draft rules for the latter three codes.
Efforts to Facilitate Draft Rule Preparation
The central government has been actively engaging with the states to facilitate the framing of draft rules.
Several meetings have been held with the states that are yet to publish the draft rules to assist them.
Despite efforts, the delay persists, and the central government continues to work closely with states to expedite the process.
The Labour Codes aim to ensure workers’ right to minimum wages and improve the overall working conditions in the country.
By consolidating multiple laws into four codes, the government aims to create a more streamlined and efficient regulatory framework.
The successful implementation of these codes is crucial for achieving the desired labour reforms. It will also help in enhancing the ease of doing business in India.
Summing Up Labour Minister’s Directive
The delay in pre-publishing draft rules by five states highlights the challenges in implementing the Labour Codes.
The central government’s ongoing efforts to engage with these states are crucial.
Facilitating the rule-making process is essential for achieving the objectives of the labour reforms.
As the country moves towards a more modern & efficient labour regulatory framework, cooperation from all is vital.
This collaboration is essential for ensuring the success of these reforms.
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