New Labour Codes

World Bank approves $1.5 bn loan to support India's reforms, job creation

The World Bank's Board of Executive Directors has approved USD 1.5 billion in financing to support India's structural reforms aimed at boosting private sector-led job creation and accelerating economic growth. The financing, provided under the Boosting Job Creation in the Private Sector Development Policy Financing (DPF) Operation, is expected to support reforms that can create employment opportunities for 11 million young Indians entering the workforce over the next two decades. The programme builds on reforms undertaken in recent years, including tax simplification, trade integration, regulatory changes, and measures to improve the business environment, the World Bank said in a statement on Monday. The DPF supports initiatives to reduce barriers to entrepreneurship, strengthen labour market participation, particularly among women, streamline trade and investment processes, and improve access to capital for businesses, it added. In November 2025, the government consolidated 29 lab

Labour code requirements: Firms seek more time to upload gig workers' data

Digital platforms have sought additional time beyond the June 21 deadline to upload gig worker data to the eShram portal, citing operational and technical challenges

Centre builds digital spine for labour code rollout across states

States asked to integrate portals as government moves towards a common labour administration framework

Binding national floor wage may redefine states' minimum wage structures

India's new Labour Codes introduce a binding national floor wage, but experts warn the absence of a clear wage-setting formula could create uncertainty and uneven implementation

Overlaps in labour codes, state laws create compliance grey zone for firms

Experts say overlaps between Labour Codes and state Shops and Establishments Acts may create compliance uncertainty for companies across working hours and leave rules

EPFO plans risk-based inspection to replace discretionary checks

New framework will replace discretionary inspections with technology-driven compliance checks based on data analysis and risk profiling

New Labour Rules may pave way for four-day workweek in select sectors

The Centre's final rules under the four Labour Codes allow flexible distribution of 48 weekly work hours, opening scope for four-day workweeks in some industries

Central labour rules notified: What the new framework means for industry

Final Central Rules under the four labour codes shift India's labour reforms from policy to implementation, putting immediate compliance focus on employers

Centre notifies final IR, Wage Code rules; issues Model Standing Orders

The Centre has notified final rules under the Industrial Relations Code and Code on Wages, along with Model Standing Orders for key sectors

Bengal workers to get ESIC coverage after Labour Codes rollout: Mandaviya

Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said workers in West Bengal will gain access to expanded ESIC social security benefits once the Labour Codes are implemented

Best of BS Opinion: From winning to governing, the challenge starts now

From election upsets and disaster alerts to labour reform, media economics, and trauma narratives, today's Best of BS Opinion brings together sharp insights on policy, politics, and society

Labour Codes face friction from state law overlaps, says experts

Overlaps between Labour Codes and state laws on working hours, leave and overtime may create compliance uncertainty, especially for firms operating across multiple states

MSME body seeks review of wage calculation rules under labour codes

Industry body flags confusion over PF, bonus and overtime inclusion in wage rules, seeks simpler compliance norms and clarity for smoother labour code implementation

EPFO, ESI overhaul required to unlock India's formal jobs potential

The EPFO and ESI have resisted radical reinvention since 1991, illustrating how self-interested bureaucracies preserve their own interests by creating improbable scenarios of chaos

Labour market friction: India needs more jobs with better work conditions

Workers allege irregular wage payments and exploitative practices

Govt rejects industry demand for gratuity relief under labour codes

Labour ministry has declined industry demand for grandfathering in gratuity rules, citing lack of provision in the original labour codes passed by Parliament

Panel calls for Centre-state board to oversee rollout of four labour codes

Parliament panel urges a Centre-State board to fast-track labour codes and calls for stronger social security for gig workers and streamlined skilling schemes

New labour codes likely to drive wider adoption of fixed-term employment

Nearly 75 per cent of companies expect a rise in structured fixed-term employment as companies respond to the implementation of new labour codes, signalling a shift towards greater workforce formalisation, according to a report. The shift toward workforce formalisation is becoming increasingly evident, as an overwhelming 75 per cent of respondents anticipate greater adoption of structured fixed-term employment as a strategic response to the new labour codes, HR solutions provider Genius HRTech said in the report. This signals a decisive movement toward more formal, compliant, and documented employment arrangements, it added. In November 2025, the government consolidated and implemented 29 Central labour laws into four comprehensive codes - Wages, Industrial Relations, Social Security, and Occupational Safety, to simplify compliance, modernise regulations, and enhance worker welfare. The report by Genius HRTech is based on inputs from 1,459 companies during January 2026 across secto

New labour codes drive faster growth in group life insurance premiums

Group life insurance premiums grew faster than individual policies in FY26 as revised labour codes, including higher basic pay norms & expanded gratuity provisions, boosted corporate-linked insurance

Clear interpretation key to labour Code success in India's reform journey

The second of the two-part series looks at working hours, employer responsibilities and compliance