Centre Notifies Three Labour Codes [Read Notifications]

• Occupational Safety, Health & Working Conditions Code, 2020
• The Industrial Relations Code, 2020
• The Code on Social Security, 2020

The three codes are part of the four codes that consolidate 29 central labour laws. In 2019, the Code on Wages was passed.

These three Bills relax labour laws to ease operational requirements for the Industries while introducing social security for all workers, including inter-state migrants and unorganized workers.

They were was passed in the Lok Sabha on 22nd September 2020 and in the Rajya Sabha on 23rd September 2020.

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The Occupational Safety, Health & Working Conditions Code, 2020 repeals as many as 13 central labour laws and empowers the state government to exempt any new factory from the provisions of the new Code, in order to create more economic activity and employment. The government has allowed a single licence for staffing firms to hire workers on contract across different locations, replacing the earlier system of multiple licences.

Further, women shall be entitled to be employed in all establishments for all types of work (earlier they were precluded from being employed in dangerous operations).

It also mandates the Government to mandate the data on inter-state migrant workers and lists certain benefits for them.

The Industrial Relations Code, 2020 amalgamates three major laws governing employee-employer relationship, after making some key amendments to the provisions.

It expands the definition of 'industrial dispute' to include dispute arising out of discharge, dismissal, retrenchment or termination of workers. It also expands the definitions of strike, workers and employers.

Further: (i) Threshold workers-limit for framing Standing Orders increased; (ii) Notice period for strike made applicable to all establishments; (iii) Notice period for lock-out made applicable to all establishments; (iv) Threshold employee-limit for prior government permission for retrenchment, lay-off, closure increased; (v) Reference system for disputes abolished; (vi) Voluntary reference to Arbitration allowed.

Also Read: New Labour Laws Explained (Part 1): Industrial Relations Code 2020

The Code on Social Security, 2020 subsumes and rationalises 9 central labour laws and empowers the central government to set up funds for unorganised workers, gig workers and platform workers.

The Code mandates that the Central Government should frame a scheme for the welfare of these classes of employees in relation to (i) life and disability cover; (ii) health and maternity benefits; (iii) old age protection; (iv) education; and (v) any other benefit as may be determined by the Central Government (Chapter IX).

Also, the State Governments are mandated to frame shceme for these employees in relation to (i) provident fund; (ii) employment injury benefit; (iii) housing; (iv) educational schemes for children; (v) skill upgradation of workers; (vi) funeral assistance; and (vii) old age homes

Every unorganised worker, gig worker or platform worker shall be required to be registered under the Code provided that the person has completed 16 years of age. Aadhaar number is mandatory for such registration.

Also Read: New Labour Laws Explained (Part II) : The Code On Social Security 2020

Click Here To Download Notification [Occupational Safety]

Click Here To Download Notification [Industrial Relations]

Click Here To Download Notification [Social Security]