Four Labour Codes come into effect, replacing 29 central labour laws
The Government of India made the four Labour Codes â the Code on Wages, 2019, the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, the Code on Social Security, 2020 and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 â effective from 21 November 2025, rationalising 29 existing labour laws.
Summary
The four Labour Codes make appointment letters mandatory for all workers, give every worker a statutory right to minimum wages and extend social security to gig and platform workers. 'Gig work', 'platform work' and 'aggregators' are defined for the first time, and aggregators must contribute 1â2% of annual turnover, capped at 5% of the amount paid to such workers. Fixed-term employees become eligible for gratuity after one year instead of five, employers must give workers above 40 a free annual health check-up, and women may work night shifts and in all types of work with consent and safety measures. PM Narendra Modi welcomed the implementation.
Key facts
- Effective from
- 21 November 2025
- Codes
- Wages 2019; Industrial Relations 2020; Social Security 2020; OSH 2020
- Laws rationalised
- 29 central labour laws
- Gig/platform workers
- Defined for first time; aggregators pay 1â2% of turnover (cap 5% of payouts)
- Fixed-term employees
- Gratuity after 1 year (instead of 5)
- Health
- Free annual check-up for workers above 40
Practice MCQs 4 questions
The four Labour Codes made effective from 21 November 2025 rationalise how many existing central labour laws?
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Correct answer: B â 29
The four Codes rationalise 29 existing central labour laws.
Which of the following is NOT one of the four Labour Codes made effective in November 2025?
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Correct answer: D â Code on Minimum Pension, 2020
The four Codes are the Code on Wages 2019, Industrial Relations Code 2020, Code on Social Security 2020 and the OSH Code 2020. There is no Code on Minimum Pension.
Under the Code on Social Security, 2020, as implemented in November 2025, aggregators must contribute towards gig and platform workers:
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Correct answer: A â 1â2% of annual turnover, capped at 5% of the amount paid/payable to such workers
Aggregators must contribute 1â2% of annual turnover, capped at 5% of the amount paid/payable to gig and platform workers.
Consider the following statements about the Labour Codes made effective in November 2025: 1. Employers must provide all workers above the age of 40 years with a free annual health check-up. 2. Women are barred from working night shifts in underground mining. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A â 1 only
Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is wrong: women may work night shifts and in all types of work, including underground mining, with their consent and mandatory safety measures.