New Delhi, April 25 -- India's new labour codes lay down provisions governing working hours, overtime, and related compensation for employees. The rules define standard working hours and specify conditions under which employees may be required to work beyond them, given that they are compensated for extra hours.

The government released new codes, merging 29 laws into four labour codes on Friday, November 21, with the aim of promoting ease of business while protecting workers' rights. These include the Code on Wages, Industrial Relations Code, Social Security Code, and Occupational Safety Code.

The codes also outline limits on total working hours and mandate overtime pay at prescribed rates. As per the rules, employers must pay their sta...