New Delhi, Nov. 22 -- A historic step has been taken. On 21 November 2025, India formally brought into effect its four Labour Codes: the Code on Wages (2019), Industrial Relations Code (2020), Code on Social Security (2020) and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code (2020). These replace 29 Central labour laws that had accumulated piecemeal over the past seven decades.

The notification marks the culmination of a reform process initiated in 2015, with years of tripartite consultation and delay due to the rule-making responsibilities of states under the Constitution's Concurrent List.

The move is being described by the government as a "historic simplification" of India's labour governance-intended to reduce compliance...