Changes to Labour Laws: Interpreting the Intricacies

Part-1

Introduction:

Amid high pitch election buzz in five state legislative assemblies, there is also a humming sound in the air that the Narendra Modi-led government may implement the four new labour codes with effect from April 1 2020. This will not only bring sweeping changes to the terms of employment for India’s 500 million strong work force; but the very concept of ‘employment’ will also get altered for ever. Across industries, the permanent nature of jobs and employment shall perhaps cease to exist. Covering almost all categories of employees and workers, the four new labour codes will make them more vulnerable towards endless exploitations with no legal safeguards for them. 

Under the pretext of simplifying, rationalizing and consolidating the complex and obscure labour laws of India, the government has introduced four new labour codes. The new plan will subsume 44 central labour laws into four broad codes on wages, industrial relations, social security and occupational safety, health & working conditions. The Ministry of Labour and Employment has completed the process of consultation and has finalised rules under the four labour codes. Since labour is a concurrent subject, certain rules would also be framed by the state governments under the four new codes. Several states including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan have already diluted their labour laws. Ironically, such changes have come during the pandemic-induced economic slump.

On 25 February 2021, the National Herald noted: “Modi government wants to bring dark days for the working class from April 1” by implementing new labour codes and, “dark days are coming back for the Indian working class, with new machines, new production process, new skills and also the corporates nourishing new levels in the evolution of finance capital”.

Changes in the existing labour laws by way of new labour codes will impact both employers and employees in India. So, what are those changes? In the next few days, a series of articles, will explain various implications of new labour codes. The discussion will be initiated with a brief note on the history of development of ‘Law of Employment’ or Labour Laws. 

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