New Labour Codes From April 1: From Working Hours to Social Security; Here's What You Need to Know

New labour codes likely to be applied from April 1, 2026, as the labour and employment ministry has finalised the rules under the four codes. The four labour codes are the Code on Wages, the Code on Social Security, the Industrial Relations Code, and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code. They aim to streamline India's regulatory framework by consolidating 44 labour laws into a simplified framework with 29 provisions.

The Centre had notified the labour codes with effect from November 21, 2025, and had placed draft rules for public opinion. People's opinion was received till January, after which the ministry finalised the rules for implementation in the central sphere.

Work Hours And Flexibility

Under the new labour codes, the daily working hours will remain at 8 hours, while the weekly working hours to continue to be 48 hours. Employers may give flexible working schedules to their employees and additional overtime options depending on weekly work-hour management.

Also Read | New Labour Code on Wages aims to safeguard workers, boost growth and jobs.

The overtime framework is aligned with international labour laws and aims to provide flexibility to both employees and employers while ensuring labour protections.

Social Security Expansion

New labour codes focus in the areas of social security coverage for employees. The government aims to extend social security benefits to 100 crore workers by March 2026, up from around 94 crore currently. The expanded coverage is expected to include workers from the unorganised sector, gig and platform workers, as well as self-employed individuals.

Equality and Workplace Protection

Workplace transparency: Appointment letters will be mandatory for all employees for their recognition. The codes also mandate equal pay for equal work and equal opportunities for women, including the ability to work across different shifts with appropriate safety provisions. Additionally, workers aged 40 years and above will be entitled to free annual health check-ups.

Regulated Overtime Framework

The new framework provides for regulated overtime, which will give employees an option in line with international labour standards. The move is expected to help industries manage workload fluctuations while ensuring workers are compensated appropriately for additional hours.