India introduces four new labour codes to modernize worker protections

India has introduced four new Labour Codes aimed at improving worker welfare and modernizing labor laws. These codes replace over 30 existing laws, focusing on wage uniformity, social security, and better working conditions. They are not yet in effect. The Code on Wages establishes a uniform definition of wages and mandates timely payment. The Industrial Relations Code allows fixed-term employment and raises the wage cap for supervisory roles. The Social Security Code expands coverage to gig and platform workers, introducing new benefits. The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code consolidates 13 previous laws, enhancing employer responsibilities for workplace safety. It raises the threshold for defining a factory and expands protections for contract workers.