The Government of India has led in a landmark transformation of the country’s employment law regime with the implementation of the four new Labour Codes from 21st November 2025. Consolidating 29 diverse legislations into a simplified and streamlined framework, these Codes mark a significant step towards enhancing worker protection, strengthening social security, and improving the ease of doing business. By aligning labour regulations with contemporary economic realities, the new regime aims to create a more transparent and secure labour ecosystem for employers and workers alike. A series of notifications have been issued to bring into effect the developments in India’s employment law landscape. With the implementations commencing from 21st November, the Government of India has notified India’s new labour law framework.
The New Labour Codes streamline and consolidate 29 existing labour laws into following four comprehensive codes designed to simplify, rationalise and modernise India’s labour regulations in India. Below is the list of enactments that has been repealed and replaced through 2025 Labour Law Reforms:
The above 29 legislations have been replaced by the codes given herein below:
While the final rules under the Labour Codes by the Central and State Governments are yet to be notified, and are expected to be released shortly. During transition period, the relevant provisions of the existing labour Acts along with their respective rules, regulations, notifications, standards, schemes, will continue to remain in force.
| MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS | PRE-LABOUR REFORMS, 2025 | POST LABOUR REFORMS, 2025 |
| Formalisation of Employment | No mandatory appointment letters | Mandatory appointment letters to all workers. Written proof will ensure transparency, job security, and fixed employment. |
| Social Security Coverage | Limited Social Security Coverage | All workers including gig & platform workers to get social security coverage and will get PF, ESIC, insurance, and other social security benefits. |
| Minimum Wages | Minimum wages applied only to scheduled industries /employments; large sections of workers remained uncovered | All workers to receive a statutory right minimum wage payment. Minimum wages and timely payment will ensure financial security. |
| Preventive Healthcare | No legal requirement for employers to provide free annual health check-ups to workers | Employers must provide all workers above the age of 40 years with a free annual health check-up. Promote timely preventive healthcare culture. |
| Timely Wages | No mandatory compliance for employers payment of wages | Mandatory for employers to provide timely wages, ensuring financial stability, reducing work stress and boosting overall morale of the workers. |
| Women workforce participation | Women’s employment in night shifts and certain occupations was restricted | Women are permitted to work at night and in all types of work across all establishments, subject to their consent and required safety measures. Women will get equal opportunities to earn higher incomes – in high paying job roles. |
| ESIC coverage | ESIC coverage was limited to notified areas and specific industries; establishments with fewer than 10 employees were generally excluded, and hazardous-process units did not have uniform mandatory ESIC coverage across India | ESIC coverage and benefits are extended Pan-India - voluntary for establishments with fewer than 10 employees, and mandatory for establishments with even one employee engaged in hazardous processes. Social protection coverage will be expanded to all workers. |
| Compliance Burden | Multiple registrations, licenses and returns across various labour laws. | Single registration, PAN-India single license and single return. Simplified processes and reduction in Compliance Burden. |
These Codes aim to make doing business easier, improve social security, and strengthen worker rights. By introducing Single Registration, Single Licence, and Single Return, they simplify compliance and help promote employment.
Source:
The official notification can be accessed at the below link:
https://labour.gov.in/sites/default/files/labour_code_eng.pdfStay one step ahead in a rapidly changing world and build a sustainable future with us.
