New Delhi, Nov 22 (UNI) Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Saturday questioned the effectiveness of the four new Labour Codes introduced by the government, expressing doubts about their ability to address the critical demands of India’s workforce.
Speaking on social media platform X, Ramesh criticized the repackaging of 29 existing labour laws into four codes, calling it a “marketed revolutionary reform” that remains incomplete as the rules for these codes have yet to be notified.
“29 existing labour-related laws have been re-packaged into 4 codes. This is being marketed as some revolutionary reform when even the Rules have yet to be notified,” Ramesh wrote.
He further challenged whether these codes would fulfill five essential worker demands under the banner of Shramik Nyay (Worker Justice): a national minimum wage of Rs 400 per day, universal health coverage of Rs 25 lakhs, an employment guarantee act for urban areas, comprehensive social security for unorganized workers, and an end to contractualization in core government functions.
The four labour codes, the Code on Wages (2019), Industrial Relations Code (2020), Code on Social Security (2020), and Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code (2020), are intended to simplify labour compliance, enhance worker protections, and encourage formalization of the workforce. However, Ramesh’s concerns about the delayed notification of the rules raise questions about the codes’ practical impact on workers’ rights and welfare.
His comments highlight ongoing debates about the pace and substance of labour reforms in India, calling for more concrete actions to ensure that legislation translates into real benefits for the country’s vast workforce.
