Legal Update – Labour Codes Move From Framework To Function: Central Rules Notified

On 8 May 2026, the Ministry of Labour and Employment (“Ministry”), Government of India, notified the Central Rules under all four (4) labour codes namely, (i) the Code on Wages, 2019 (“Wages Code”), (ii) the Code on Social Security, 2020 (“SS Code”), (iii) the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 (“OSH Code”), and (iv) the Industrial Relations Code, 2020 (“IR Code”) (collectively “Labour Codes”).

While the Labour Codes themselves were brought into force on 21 November 2025, the notification of the Central Rules marks the real operational shift from legislative reform to day-to-day compliance. The Central Rules provide the procedural and compliance framework required to implement the Labour Codes in practice i.e. from working hours, wages, contract labour and social security obligations to grievance redressal committees, standing orders and retrenchment related compliances.