Industrial Relations Code, 2020

Act of Indian Parliament

Industrial Relations Code, 2020

Parliament of India

Long title

* An Act to consolidate and amend the laws relating to Trade Unions, conditions of employment in industrial establishment or undertaking, investigation and settlement of industrial disputes

Citation| Act No. 35 of 2020 (PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on 29 September 2020
Territorial extent| India
Considered by| Parliament of India
Enacted by| Lok Sabha
Enacted| September 22, 2020 (2020-09-22)
Enacted by| Rajya Sabha
Enacted| September 23, 2020 (2020-09-23)
Assented to| 28 September 2020
Legislative history
First chamber: Lok Sabha
Introduced by| Santosh Gangwar
Minister of State (IC) Labour and Employment
Introduced| September 19, 2020 (2020-09-19)
First reading| September 22, 2020 (2020-09-22)
Second reading| September 23, 2020 (2020-09-23)
Committee report| Report of Second National Commission on Labour
Repeals

* Trade Unions Act, 1926
* Industrial Disputes Act, 1947
* Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946

Status: Not yet in force

Industrial Relations Code, 2020 consolidates and amends the laws relating to Trade Unions, conditions of employment in industrial establishment or undertaking, investigation and settlement of industrial disputes. The code combines and simplifies 3 Central Labour Laws.[1]

Industrial Relations Code, 2020 introduced more conditions for workers to strike, alongside an increase in the threshold relating to layoffs and retrenchment in industrial establishments having 300 workers from 100 workers to provide more flexibility to employers for hiring and firing workers without government permission.[2]

The proposed legislation provides for a broader framework to protect the rights of workers to form unions, to minimise the friction between the employers and workers and to provide provisions for investigation and settlement of industrial disputes.

Industrial Relations Code amends the definition of "strike" to "mass casual leave". If over 50 per cent of a company's workers take concerted casual leave, it will be treated as a strike. However, workers cannot go on strike without a 14 days (not exceeding 60 days) notice.[3]

The Lok Sabha passed the bill on 22 September 2020 and the Rajya Sabha passed it on 23 September 2020. It was assented by the President on 28 September 2020,[4] but the date of coming into force is yet to be notified.

## Background[edit]

The bill was formulated according to the Report and Recommendations of the Second National Commission on Labour.

The Industrial Relations Code Bill, 2020 proposed for amalgamating, simplifying and rationalising the relevant provisions of three Acts.

* Trade Unions Act, 1926
* Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946
* Industrial Disputes Act, 1947

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Parliament passes three Labour bills: Here are the key changes". The Economic Times.
2. ^ "Explained: In labour codes, what changes for workers and hirers?". 23 September 2020.
3. ^ "Lok Sabha passes three labour code bills: What do they mean for India's employers and workers?". www.timesnownews.com.
4. ^ Gazette of India notification