The Labour Codes

Published on: December 7, 2025
India Business
S No Topic Code of Wages Code of Social Security Industrial Relations Code Occupational Safety Code
1 Applicability All employers having employees All employers having employees All employers having 10 or more workers All employers having 10 or more workers
2 Exclusion Universities, other educational institutions, hospitals, chambers of commerce, and social welfare institutions established not for purposes of profit are not covered under bonus As mentioned in each schemes headcount or wage limit Applies only to industrial establishments as defined under the Code; excludes establishments with fewer than the prescribed number of workers Does not apply to offices or establishments where only administrative or clerical work is performed; and establishments below the threshold headcount for specific provisions.
3 Registration of Establishment and specific applicability All establishments All employers as they meet the headcount requirements All employers if employing more than 10 workers All employers if employing more than 10 workers
4 Definition of Wages All fixed components, but not less than 50% of total earning All fixed components, but not less than 50% of total earning All fixed components, but not less than 50% of total earning All fixed components, but not less than 50% of total earning
5 Definition of Worker All non managerial, no supervisory role drawing less than INR 15000 per month Not Defined All non managerial, no supervisory role drawing less than INR 18000 per month All non managerial, no supervisory role drawing less than INR 18000 per month
6 Definition of employee All employer employee relationship All employer employee relationship All employer employee relationship All employer employee relationship
7 Inter state migrant worker Not Applicable Workers from different state, and drawing wages less than INR 18,000 per month Not Applicable Workers from different state, and drawing wages less than INR 18,000 per month
8 Sales promotion employee Not Applicable Employees performing sales promotion role, but drawing wage less than INR 18,000 per month Not Applicable Employees performing sales promotion role, but drawing wage less than INR 18,000 per month
9 Minimum Wages All employees Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable
10 Payment of Wages All employees Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable
11 Equal Remuneration Covers all employees, irrespective of gender Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable
12 Bonus Applicable if 20+ employees Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable
13 Domestic Workers Covered under this code Included in unorganised worker Not included in the code Not included in the code
14 Fixed Term Employment Not covered in code Applicable to employees Applicable to workers Not Applicable
15 Provident Fund Not covered in code Applicable if 20+ employees Not Applicable Not Applicable
16 ESIC Not Applicable In organisations with 10 + employees drawing less than or equal to INR 21,000 per month (amount is from ESIC Act) Not Applicable Not Applicable
17 Gratuity Not Applicable Applicable if 10+ employees Not Applicable Not Applicable
18 Maternity Benefit Not Applicable Applicable if 10+ employees Not Applicable Not Applicable
19 Compensation for Injury/Death Not Applicable Employees in Factories, Mines, Plantation, not in office and shops or covered under ESIC Not Applicable Not Applicable
20 Unorganised/Gig/Platform Workers Not Applicable Every such person included Not Applicable Not Applicable
21 Employment Exchange / Career Centre vacancy notification Not Applicable Applicable if 50+ employees Not Applicable Not Applicable
22 Layoff/Retrenchment/Closure Not Applicable Not Applicable Applicable if 50+ workers Not Applicable
23 Standing Orders Not Applicable Not Applicable Applicable if 300+ workers Not Applicable
24 Works Committee Not Applicable Not Applicable Applicable if 100+ workers Not Applicable
25 Grievance Redressal Committee Not Applicable Not Applicable Applicable if 20+ workers Not Applicable
26 Trade Union Registration Not Applicable Not Applicable Considers workers only Not Applicable
27 Negotiating Union/Council Not Applicable Not Applicable Considers workers only Not Applicable
28 Strikes/Lockouts Not Applicable Not Applicable Considers workers only Not Applicable
29 Worker Re-skilling Fund Not Applicable Not Applicable Considers workers only Not Applicable
30 Unfair Labour Practices Not Applicable Not Applicable Considers workers only Not Applicable
31 Health & Safety (General) Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Applicable if 10+ workers
32 Overtime Applicable to all employees if listed in minimum wage notification Not Applicable Not Applicable Applicable to workers
33 Leaves (Annual, Sick, Casual) Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Applicable to workers
34 Leaves for Workers Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable 18 days earned leave in a year
35 Leaves for Sales promotion employees Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable 30 days earned leave in a year, plus 15 days casual leave and 20 days of sick leave at half pay. Carry forward up to 90 days
36 Leaves for working journalists Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable 30 days earned leave in a year, plus 15 days casual leave and 20 days of sick leave at half pay. Carry forward up to 90 days
37 Women Employment Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Allowed at all hours subject to their consent, but not specifically states women workers
38 Contract Labour Regulation Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Applicable if 50+ contract staff (can be non worker also)
39 Inter-State Migrant Workers Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Applicable if 10+ inter state workers
40 Welfare Facilities Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Workers
41 Creche Not Applicable Applicable if 50+ employees Not Applicable Applicable if 50+ workers
42 Canteen facility Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Applicable if 100+ workers
43 Safety Officer or Committee Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Workers only (thresholds: 500+ for officer, 250+ for hazardous)
44 Building & Construction Workers Not Applicable Not Applicable Not Applicable Applicable if 10+ workers and project non private residential of more than ₹50 lakh+
45 Penalties for Non-Compliance First instance Civil, repeat can be civil or criminal First instance Civil, repeat can be civil or criminal First instance Civil, repeat can be civil or criminal First instance Civil, repeat can be civil or criminal
46 Dispute resolution Regulatory Authority, Legal System Regulatory Authority, Legal System Arbitration, Regulatory Authority, legal System Regulatory Authority, Legal System
47 Rules notified by Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka

This table does not talk of specific clauses related to hazardous industry, mines, ports, audio-visual production, building and construction worker, motor transport undertakings

If you would like a PDF of this, please write to us from your official email address

About Author

Mandeep Singh Partner - HR, AI & Data Science