As per a report in Business Standard, The government is planning to implement all the four labour codes on a single date in 2020-21 because the government believes that a single date for the implementation of all the four labour codes will be fruitful because it will ensure uniformity and will lead to efficient execution.
The labour code on wages has already become a law (notification not issued), the remaining three codes each on industrial relations, social security and welfare and occupational safety, health and working conditions have been introduced in the Lok Sabha.
After all the four codes become law, the industry will have to apply for a single registration for labour laws instead of the need to do eight separate labour law registrations. However, the implementation of the Code on Wages Act, 2019, could face delay by at least one year from when it became a law.
According to a senior labour and employment ministry official, the consolidation of 36 labour laws into four codes will result in the harmonisation of various key definitions related to wages, employees, employers, and workplace, among others. “If basic concepts such as what will constitute wages vary across labour laws, it may lead to confusion and arbitration,” the official said.
However, some industry representatives criticised the move and said it would “postpone the labour law reforms”. “All good moves do not have to happen together. I don’t agree with the government’s myopic view. The code on wages Act clearly defines wages, overtime and other such concepts so why should it wait for other Bills to become a law?” Pradeep Bhargava, president of the Mahratta Chamber of Commerce said.
Bhargava added that the intent of the government to push for labour law reforms would be nullified as some labour Bills may even take more than a year to become an Act. It took exactly two years for the code on wages Bill, which was introduced in Lok Sabha in August 2017 and subsequently referred to a standing committee, to become a law. The standing committee had submitted its report in December 2018.
