New Delhi: The new Labour Codes represent a transformational shift from a regulatory approach centred on control towards greater collaboration and facilitation among the government, industry and workers, Labour Secretary Dr Chandra Bhushan Kumar, an IAS officer of 1995 batch from AGMUT cadre, said.
Speaking at a seminar organised by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) on September 24, 2026, Dr Kumar, IAS (1995: AGMUT), Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, outlined the key elements of the new labour framework and the preparations underway for its implementation.
He described the reform as a once-in-a-generation exercise aimed at rationalising India’s labour framework through consolidation of laws, reduction in provisions, digitalisation of compliance, e-portals, uniform return filing and greater uniformity in the definition of wages.
Implementation Requires Centre-State Coordination
Dr Kumar said implementation of the new Labour Codes would be a collective responsibility requiring close coordination between the Centre and states, along with continuous engagement with industry.
The Ministry of Labour and Employment is undertaking a coordinated awareness and training exercise across 316 districts having industrial clusters. State labour machinery and master trainers are also being prepared as part of the implementation exercise.
He noted that most states have already pre-published their rules, while the Ministry is working towards completing the state-level rule-making process.
The Union Labour Secretary also said the government is working to provide greater clarity on floor wages and other issues linked to implementation.
Focus on Employment, Skills and Job Opportunities
Dr Kumar highlighted the employment and social-security dimensions of the reforms, particularly the need to strengthen the connection between employment, skills and available job opportunities.
He pointed to the role of the National Career Service in strengthening this linkage and spoke about the integration of employment and skilling databases.
The expansion of career lounges is also part of the effort to provide greater access to employment-related services and opportunities.
Wider Social Security for Gig and Platform Workers
A key feature of the new framework is the expansion of social protection to categories of workers who have traditionally remained outside conventional employment structures.
Dr Kumar said the framework provides a stronger basis for extending social security to gig, platform and unorganised workers.
The Ministry is also working towards connecting government welfare schemes through digital platforms. According to the Secretary, this would help identify gaps in coverage and support the development of sustainable, long-term labour standards.
Industry Highlights Social Security and Women’s Empowerment
Vineet Nahata, Chair, Economics Affairs Committee, PHDCCI, said the new Labour Codes mark a significant reform by expanding social security coverage, including for gig and platform workers.
He also highlighted the reforms’ focus on women’s empowerment, while stating that they are expected to support entrepreneurship, strengthen management-labour relations and promote greater industrial harmony.
Nahata said industry has broadly welcomed the reforms despite the anticipated increase in compliance costs. He described the changes as an important step towards strengthening India’s business environment and supporting the country’s broader development objectives.
Digitalisation at the Centre of Labour Reform
The new framework places considerable emphasis on simplifying and standardising compliance through digital systems.
The consolidation of labour laws, e-portals and uniform return filing is intended to reduce fragmentation in the existing compliance framework, while greater uniformity in wage definitions is aimed at creating consistency across labour-related provisions.
At the same time, the government’s implementation strategy is focusing on awareness, training and coordination with state labour departments and industry so that the new framework can be translated into practice across different regions and employment sectors.
The discussions at the PHDCCI seminar highlighted that the success of the new Labour Codes will depend not only on legislative changes but also on effective implementation, state-level rule-making, industry participation and wider awareness among workers and employers.
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