Haryana Labour Minister Sh. Anil Vij urged Union Minister for Labour and Employment Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya to provide state labour departments with draft rules and regulations framed under the new Labour Codes so that uniform rules can be implemented across the country. He stated that if any state needs modifications according to its local requirements, those can be incorporated subsequently.
Responding to the suggestion, Dr. Mandaviya appreciated Sh. Vij’s proposal and informed that the Central Government had already prepared the draft rules on May 8 and would soon circulate to all states. Sh. Vij was participating in a virtual meeting from Chandigarh chaired by Union Labour and Employment Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya at Delhi.
Labour Ministers and senior officials from various states and Union Territories also attended the meeting. During the meeting, Sh. Vij shared details of Haryana’s progress towards implementing the Code on Wages, 2019, Industrial Relations Code, 2020, Code on Social Security, 2020, and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020.
He said that extensive consultations would be held with workers, industries, and other stakeholders to ensure effective implementation of the four Labour Codes and to address any practical difficulties through their suggestions and feedback. He informed that the Haryana Government has already placed the draft rules of all four Labour Codes in the public domain and invited suggestions and objections from stakeholders.
Sh. Vij said that Haryana is moving rapidly towards implementing the new Labour Codes while ensuring protection of workers’ interests and creating a simple and transparent framework for industries. He described the four Labour Codes introduced by the Central Government as a historic and visionary reform in the field of labour welfare.
He noted that most of the earlier labour laws were framed during the colonial era and required significant updating to meet modern industrial and economic realities. Although such reforms should have been undertaken much earlier, the present government under the leadership of Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi comprehensively reviewed and restructured labour laws to suit the needs of a modern and rapidly developing India while balancing the interests of both workers and industries.
Sh. Vij said that the new Labour Codes would strengthen workers’ rights while also promoting employment generation and industrial growth. According to Haryana Labour Department data, the state has 28,256 operational factories employing 2,568,064 workers.
Similarly, there are 534,498 operational shops and establishments employing 6,889,300 workers. He further informed that 5,436,146 workers are registered on the e-Shram portal, while the state has 21,177 gig workers.
Earlier, addressing the virtual meeting, Union Labour and Employment Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya said that the Central Government is fully committed to supporting states in the effective implementation of the four Labour Codes. He noted that model rules have already been published to facilitate states in drafting and implementing their respective regulations.
Dr. Mandaviya said that, in view of globalization, international investment, and worker welfare, India’s labour laws have undergone significant reforms. The objective of the new Labour Codes is to create a modern and balanced labour framework that promotes investment while safeguarding workers’ rights.
These reforms will provide both international companies and workers with a transparent and efficient work environment. The Union Minister highlighted that the new Labour Codes place special emphasis on workers’ welfare.
Appointment letters have been made mandatory, equal wages for equal work have been ensured for men and women, and Fixed-Term Employment has been provided with a clear legal framework. Special provisions have also been made for the safety and welfare of workers engaged in hazardous occupations. He added that the Codes comprehensively cover workers’ health, safety, and social security.
He further said that the Central Government would provide technical, administrative, and financial assistance to states for implementing the Labour Codes. Training programmes for officials and employees would also be organized to ensure effective enforcement of the new provisions.
Referring to the Prime Minister Internship Scheme, Dr. Mandaviya informed that the Government is encouraging internship opportunities for one crore youth in premium companies across the country. He also apprised that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will distribute appointment letters to youth across the nation on June 19.
The Union Minister emphasized that the Central and State Governments must work in close coordination and partnership to maintain a balance between labour welfare and industrial development. During the meeting, the Ministry of Labour and Employment also made a detailed presentation on the implementation status of the four Labour Codes across states.
Haryana’s efforts were highlighted, noting that the state had pre-published the draft rules in May and invited suggestions and objections from stakeholders. Another presentation focused on information technology-based reforms, including the Samadhan Portal and other digital systems. States were directed to publish their rules at the earliest and ensure timely implementation of IT systems.
Besides Labour Minister Sh. Anil Vij, the meeting was attended from Chandigarh by Labour Commissioner and Secretary Sh. Rajeev Ranjan, ESIC Director Smt. Anjali Sachdeva, and other senior departmental officers.