The Industrial Relations Code (Amendment) Bill 2026 received Presidential assent on February 16, 2026, following its passage by the Lok Sabha on February 12 and the Rajya Sabha on February 13. The Bill amends the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, and together with it, consolidates and repeals three foundational labour legislations: the Trade Unions Act, 1926; the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946; and the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947.
This is one of the most significant reforms in India's labour law landscape since independence. The original Industrial Relations Code 2020 was part of the government's broader effort to consolidate 29 central labour laws into four Labour Codes. The 2026 amendment strengthens provisions in several key areas.
Key Provisions of the 2026 Amendment:
1. Mandatory Annual Health Check-up: All workers above the age of 40 years must be provided a mandatory annual health check-up by their employer — a first-of-its-kind provision in Indian labour law.
2. Simplification of standing orders and dispute resolution mechanisms.
3. Enhanced protections for gig and platform workers (provisions for recognition and social security).
4. Streamlined trade union recognition process to reduce multiplicity.
The three repealed Acts represented over a century of layered labour legislation dating to British rule. Their consolidation into a single code signals a major shift toward ease of doing business while balancing worker welfare. Critics have raised concerns about dilution of worker protections under the Trade Unions Act 1926 and dispute resolution under the Industrial Disputes Act 1947.
The amendment is assigned the primary coverage date of February 18, 2026, as that is when national commentary and analysis reached peak coverage.