Published: 4 November 2025MoL&E/PRSEconomy
Four Labour Codes Commencement Notification — Effective 21 November 2025
AQuick answer
The Union Government notified the four Labour Codes effective 21 November 2025, consolidating 29 central labour laws. Key provisions include mandatory appointment letters, gig-worker social security, women's night-work rights, and annual health checks for workers aged 40+, expanding protections for workers across sectors, including unorganised, gig, platform and migrant workers.
The Union Government issued commencement notifications for the four Labour Codes, making them effective from 21 November 2025. These four codes — 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 (OSH Code, 2020) — together consolidate and replace 29 existing central labour laws, simplifying India's complex labour legislation framework.
The Code on Wages ensures a universal minimum wage and timely payment of wages to all workers regardless of sector or skill level. The Industrial Relations Code streamlines laws relating to trade unions, standing orders, and industrial disputes, introducing provisions for fixed-term employment. The Code on Social Security extends coverage to previously excluded categories, including gig workers and platform workers, bringing them within the ambit of social security benefits. The OSH Code sets unified occupational safety and health standards across sectors.
Among the key provisions taking effect: employers are now mandatorily required to issue appointment letters to all workers, a significant step towards formalisation of employment. Women workers are entitled to night-shift work with requisite safety conditions. Workers above the age of 40 are entitled to annual health check-ups at employer expense. Gig and platform workers — an estimated 7.7 million workers in India — gain access to social security schemes for the first time.
The implementation is expected to benefit approximately 500 million informal-sector workers. The codes are seen as a major reform consolidating India's fragmented labour laws, easing compliance for businesses and extending protections to a much larger workforce.
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Frequently asked questions
How many central labour laws do the four Labour Codes replace?
The four Labour Codes together consolidate and replace 29 existing central labour laws, simplifying India's labour legislation framework.
What are the four Labour Codes and when do they take effect?
The four codes are: Code on Wages (2019), Industrial Relations Code (2020), Code on Social Security (2020), and the OSH Code (2020). They take effect from 21 November 2025.
What new protections do gig workers receive under the Labour Codes?
Gig and platform workers gain access to social security benefits for the first time under the Code on Social Security, covering an estimated 7.7 million such workers in India.
What does the mandatory appointment letter provision mean for workers?
All employers must now issue formal appointment letters to every worker, a key step towards formalising employment and reducing informal labour arrangements.
How many workers are expected to benefit from the four Labour Codes?
Approximately 500 million informal-sector workers across India are expected to benefit from the consolidation and expansion of protections under the four Labour Codes.
