On 28th November 2025, HL Kumar And Associates organised a seminar in New Delhi that brought together labour law experts, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to discuss the implementation of India’s four new labour codes.
The session emphasized how these reforms are reshaping the country’s employment landscape, consolidating multiple legislations into a simplified framework, and aiming to balance worker welfare with business efficiency.
Key Highlights from the Seminar
Simplification of Laws: The new codes merge 29 existing labour laws into four streamlined codes—Wages, Industrial Relations, Social Security, and Occupational Safety & Health. This reduces compliance complexity for employers.
Worker Protection: Experts stressed that the codes expand coverage to gig workers, platform workers, and those in the unorganized sector, ensuring broader access to social security and minimum wages.
Ease of Doing Business: The reforms introduce single electronic registration, web‑based inspections, and uniform definitions of wages, making compliance more transparent and less bureaucratic.
Employment Opportunities: Panelists highlighted that by modernizing labour laws, India can attract more investment, create jobs, and align with global standards.
Women in Workforce: The codes now allow women to work night shifts with consent and safety measures, a progressive step toward gender inclusivity.
Contract Labour Regulation: Clearer rules prohibit contract labour in core activities, while ensuring welfare facilities and timely wage payments for contract workers.
Implications for Stakeholders
For Employers: Simplified compliance, reduced paperwork, and flexibility in workforce management.
For Employees: Stronger rights, better safety standards, and expanded social security coverage.
For Policymakers: A unified framework that supports economic growth while safeguarding worker welfare.
The seminar underscored that India’s new labour codes are not just legal reforms—they represent a social and economic transformation. By consolidating laws, expanding protections, and modernizing compliance, these codes aim to create a future‑ready workforce and a more resilient industrial environment.
