Ministry of Labour & Employment
2023-24 Key Developments
ESIC Medical Benefits Extension (Feb 2024)
- Extended To : Retired employees (wages > ₹30,000)
- Eligibility : 5+ years insurable employment before superannuation/VRS
- Earlier : Only for wages ≤ ₹30,000
- Coverage : Medical benefits post-retirement
PM-Vishwakarma Scheme (Aug 2023)
- Approved : Central sector scheme
- Outlay : ₹13,000 Cr (2023-28)
- Trades : 18 traditional trades (carpenter, blacksmith, potter, tailor, etc.)
- Credit : ₹1 lakh (first tranche) + ₹2 lakh (second) at 5% interest
- Skill Upgradation : Basic (5 days) + Advanced (15 days)
- Toolkit Incentive : ₹15,000
- Digital Transactions : ₹1 per transaction incentive
- Beneficiaries : 30 lakh in 5 years
Labour Code Status (2023-24)
- 4 Codes Passed : Wages, Social Security, IR, OSH&WC
- Implementation : Pending central and state rules notification
- Draft Rules : Published; awaiting finalization
- One-Code-One-Return : Proposed under codes
2020-21 Key Legislation
Code on Wages, 2019
- Passed : Aug 2019
- Replaces : 4 Acts (Minimum Wages, Payment of Wages, Bonus, Equal Remuneration)
- Universal Coverage : All employees in all establishments
- National Minimum Wage : Central govt to fix floor wage
- Payment : Wage period ≤1 month; payment within 7-10 days
Code on Social Security, 2020
- Passed : Sept 2020
- Replaces : 9 Acts (EPF, ESI, Maternity Benefit, Gratuity, etc.)
- Gig Workers : Brought under social security net
- Platform Workers : Insurance, PF, gratuity benefits
- Social Security Fund : For gig/platform workers
- Aadhaar : Mandatory for registration
Industrial Relations Code, 2020
- Passed : Sept 2020
- Replaces : 3 Acts (Trade Unions, Standing Orders, Industrial Disputes)
- Strike Notice : 60 days (extended to all establishments)
- Standing Orders : Applicable to 300+ workers (earlier 100+)
- Retrenchment : Govt permission for 300+ workers (earlier 100+)
- Fixed-term Employment : Statutory recognition
Occupational Safety, Health & Working Conditions Code, 2020
- Passed : Sept 2020
- Replaces : 13 Acts (Factories, Mines, Contract Labour, etc.)
- Threshold : 10+ workers (with power); 20+ (without power)
- Women : Permitted in all establishments with safeguards
- Night Shifts : Women allowed with consent and safety
- Inter-State Migrants : One-time travel allowance
Labour Codes - Key Features
- One Registration : Single registration for multiple laws
- One Return : Unified annual return
- Web Portal : Single window compliance
- Inspections : Random computer-based selection
- Compounding : Offences can be compounded