Centre Likely To Notify Labour Codes After Lok Sabha Elections: Report

The new government formed after the Lok Sabha elections is expected to notify the rules related to the four new labour codes.

Upon notification by the Centre, states that have not yet formed rules related to the new labour codes will be required to do so, a senior government official told Financial Express.

Under the Constitution of India, labour laws are part of the concurrent list in Schedule 7.

According to the official, state governments must enact the laws passed by Parliament and cannot opt out.

The official noted that the Centre has delayed notifying the rules to include all states, although some, like West Bengal, have not yet framed their rules.

“The state governments are bound to implement the laws formulated by the parliament and they can’t refuse to do so,” the official said, FE reported.

“The Centre didn’t notify the rules as the intent was to take all the states on board, but some states refused to frame the respective rules, such as West Bengal, but post elections, the codes will be notified,” the official added.

These new codes, which consolidate 44 labour laws into four laws - the Code on Social Security 2020, Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code 2020, Industrial Relations Code 2020, and Code on Wages 2019 - aim to enhance business ease and stimulate investment and growth.

So far, 24 states and union territories have formed rules under all four codes - barring West Bengal, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Lakshadweep and Dadar & Nagar Haveli, a report by VV Giri National Labour Institute said in December.

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