A joint platform of ten central commerce unions on Friday criticised the federal government’s notification of the 4 labour codes, calling the transfer “a misleading fraud dedicated towards the working individuals of the nation” and saying a nationwide day of protest on November 26. The unions allege that the implementation, efficient from November 21, is unilateral and “anti-worker, pro-employer” and undermines the welfare-state framework. The assertion was issued collectively by INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, LPF and UTUC. The notification operationalises the Code on Wages (2019), Industrial Relations Code (2020), Social Safety Code (2020) and the Occupational Security, Well being and Working Situations Code (2020), changing 29 central labour legal guidelines.
Authorities says codes modernise labour framework
PM Narendra Modi hailed the implementation, calling it “probably the most complete and progressive labour-oriented reforms since Independence” and mentioned the transfer strengthens employees’ rights and simplifies compliance.“These Codes will function a robust basis for common social safety, minimal and well timed cost of wages, protected workplaces and remunerative alternatives for our individuals, particularly Nari Shakti and Yuva Shakti,” PM Modi mentioned on X.“It’ll construct a future-ready ecosystem that protects the rights of employees and strengthens India’s financial development. These reforms will enhance job creation, drive productiveness and speed up our journey in the direction of a Viksit Bharat.” PM Modi added.The federal government mentioned that the overhaul is meant to develop formalisation, scale back compliance burden and improve employee protections throughout sectors, together with gig and platform labour, MSMEs, girls employees and contract staff.
Key provisions underneath the codes
Based on the federal government’s announcement, main modifications embrace:
- Common
minimal wages and obligatory well timed wage funds - Extension of social safety to gig and platform employees
- Girls allowed to work in all sectors together with evening shifts, with obligatory security measures
- Free annual well being check-ups for employees above 40 years
- Single registration, single licence and single return to ease compliance
- Mounted-term staff eligible for gratuity after one 12 months
- Expanded ESIC protection, together with items with even one hazardous-process employee
- Gender-neutral pay and mandated appointment letters for all staff
Commerce unions name transfer ‘undemocratic’, cite ignored consultations
The commerce unions known as the rollout arbitrary, alleging the choice caters to “employers’ representatives and fringe supporters of the Govt”. They claimed a number of protests and strikes since 2019—together with the January 2020 normal strike, the November 26 protest with Samyukt Kisan Morcha, and a July 9, 2025 strike claimed to contain “greater than 25 crores employees”—have been ignored.They mentioned appeals to convene the Indian Labour Convention and repeal the codes, together with throughout pre-budget conferences on November 13 and November 20, obtained no response.“This Union authorities has made efficient the labour codes to cater to the calls for of employers’ representatives… Essentially the most undemocratic, most regressive—anti-worker and pro-employer transfer,” the assertion mentioned.“Implementing the codes amid deepening unemployment disaster and rising inflation is nothing wanting declaration of warfare on the working plenty,” the platform mentioned, alleging the federal government acted “in cahoots with capitalist cronies” to return to an “exploitative period of master-servant relationship”.“The working individuals of India will put up a formidable combat until the labour codes are withdrawn.” the labour unions added.
Unions submit constitution in pre-budget consultations
Earlier, the Joint Platform of Central Commerce Unions introduced its 20-Level Staff Constitution on the 2026-27 pre-budget session on November 20.The constitution sought measures to spice up home demand amid tariff considerations, stronger auditing of presidency schemes, and steps to reverse declining audit reviews positioned earlier than Parliament. The unions demanded wider EPF/ESI protection, greater statutory thresholds, elevated minimal pension and scheme-worker honorariums, and sectoral cesses to fund welfare.Additionally they sought reversal of decriminalisation underneath the Jan Vishwas Act and demanded job-creation measures rather than public funding by PLI, Capex Incentive and ELI schemes, citing declining employment development, stagnant actual wages and weak manufacturing efficiency.