Overview
- The Labour Ministry, which published final central rules on Friday, said the move makes the four consolidated labour codes fully operational.
- The rules fix an eight-hour workday with a 48-hour weekly cap, require at least one weekly rest day, mandate overtime pay beyond these limits, and set on-time wage payment timelines with electronic transfers to bank accounts.
- The Code on Wages empowers the Centre to set a statutory national floor wage, while the final rules drop the earlier minimum-wage calculation formula pending a separate order, a change that experts warn could widen inter-state pay gaps.
- Central rules chiefly cover sectors where the Union government is the authority, so states must now notify their own versions, with Maharashtra issuing draft rules and inviting public feedback within 45 days.
- Worker protections expand through formal social security for gig and platform workers, new Model Standing Orders that define job categories and benefits for contract staff, a National Reskilling Fund for retrenched workers, and requirements like appointment letters, health checks, and safety committees in large workplaces.