The Four Labour Codes, though passed by Parliament in 2019 and 2020, are still not implemented across India as of mid-2025. The delay is due to a combination of administrative, legal, political, and practical reasons.
Here’s a detailed explanation:
🧩 Why India’s New Labour Codes Are Still Not Implemented
🇮🇳 4 Labour Codes passed in 2019–2020. But still on hold in 2025.
⚖️ 1. Labour is a Concurrent Subject
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📜 Parliament passed the Codes
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🏛 States must frame & notify own rules
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🚦Implementation only after Centre + States notify rules
⏳ 2. Uneven State Readiness
| State | Draft Rules | Final Notification |
|---|---|---|
| UP, MP, Gujarat, Karnataka | ✅ Done | ❌ Pending |
| Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra | 🕗 In progress | ❌ Not yet |
| Several others | ❌ Not started | ❌ Not yet |
🛑 No simultaneous rollout yet
🧑🏭 3. Trade Union Opposition
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⛔ Restrictions on strikes
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🔄 Hire-and-fire under IR Code
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🚩 Nationwide protests & lobbying
🏭 4. Employer & Industry Concerns
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💰 Higher wage burden
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🧾 Compliance load (ESI, EPF for all)
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🧮 Confusion over implementation process
🧠 5. Pending IT Infrastructure
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🔄 National Database for unorganized workers
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🧾 Unified UAN system for gig, platform workers
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⚙️ Labour ministry tech back-end still incomplete
🗳️ 6. Elections & Political Sensitivity
😷 7. Covid Delays
✅ Centre’s Stand
“All four codes will be implemented simultaneously across India.”
– Ministry of Labour & Employment
🕰️ Status as of July 2025
| Code | Central Rules | Most States Ready? | Implemented? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wage Code, 2019 | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Social Security Code, 2020 | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| OSH Code, 2020 | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Industrial Relations Code | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No |
📌 Summary:
✔️ Passed
⚙️ Framework ready
🛑 Not yet implemented due to state delays, political sensitivity, stakeholder resistance, and pending tech systems.