Government Notifies Final Rules for Industrial Relations and Wage Codes

The Indian Ministry of Labour and Employment has notified the final rules for the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, and the Code on Wages, 2019, advancing the implementation of four labour codes passed in 2019 and 2020. These rules apply primarily to establishments under the central government’s jurisdiction, including sectors like telecom, banking, mining, and central public sector undertakings. The Wage Code rules establish norms for minimum wages, variable dearness allowance revisions, and work hours, while the Industrial Relations Code includes provisions for reskilling funds and dispute resolution authorities. Model Standing Orders for mining, manufacturing, and services sectors have also been issued to standardize worker classifications and employment conditions. States are expected to finalize their own rules based on these central guidelines.