J&K moves towards full implementation of new labour laws

Ziraat Times News Desk

Srinagar, July 15: Jammu & Kashmir has made significant progress towards implementing the four new Labour Codes, with Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Tuesday reviewing the Union Territory’s preparedness and directing the Labour & Employment Department to expedite the remaining procedural formalities for their rollout.

Chairing a high-level review meeting, Dulloo described the Labour Codes as a transformative reform aimed at improving labour welfare, strengthening social security, promoting industrial harmony and enhancing the ease of doing business. He said their effective implementation would contribute to inclusive economic growth, formalisation of employment, improved working conditions and transparent labour governance in the Union Territory.

The meeting was attended by Secretary, Labour & Employment Kumar Rajeev Ranjan, Commissioner Secretary, Law, Director General Codes, Labour Commissioner Charandeep Singh and other senior officers.

During the meeting, the Labour & Employment Department presented a detailed review of the status of rule-making, institutional preparedness, digital integration, awareness campaigns and the roadmap for operationalising the new labour law framework across Jammu & Kashmir.

The Chief Secretary appreciated the department’s progress and directed officials to complete the remaining tasks within the stipulated timeframe. He asked the department to expedite notification of the pending rules, strengthen coordination with the Government of India for operationalisation of digital platforms, constitute the required statutory boards and continue extensive awareness programmes to ensure workers, employers and other stakeholders are prepared for the transition.

Secretary Labour & Employment Kumar Rajeev Ranjan said the reforms replace 29 Central labour laws with four comprehensive legislations — the Code on Wages, 2019; Industrial Relations Code, 2020; Code on Social Security, 2020; and Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020. He said the new framework aims to simplify labour governance while making it more transparent, technology-driven and worker-centric, alongside improving the ease of doing business.

He informed the meeting that Jammu & Kashmir is among the leading States and Union Territories in completing the statutory rule-making process for implementation of the Labour Codes.

Labour Commissioner Charandeep Singh said rules under all four Labour Codes have been framed. The rules under the Industrial Relations Code, 2020 have already been notified in the Official Gazette, while those under the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 are at the final stage of notification. The rules under the Code on Wages, 2019 and the Code on Social Security, 2020 have been pre-published and are undergoing the mandatory consultation process before final notification.

Officials informed the meeting that the department has organised 617 Information, Education and Communication (IEC) camps across all 20 districts, reaching nearly five lakh workers, employers and other stakeholders to spread awareness about the new labour regime.

In addition, 283 capacity-building programmes have been conducted, benefiting more than 7,200 officers, employers, trade unions and other stakeholders, including specialised training sessions held in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour & Employment.

The department highlighted that the Labour Codes introduce several major reforms, including universal minimum wage protection for all employees irrespective of occupation, introduction of a National Floor Wage and a common definition of wages across all four Codes to ensure enhanced provident fund, gratuity and other social security benefits.

The meeting was informed that implementation of the new labour framework would require constitution of four statutory bodies — the State Social Security Board for Unorganised Workers, Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board, State Advisory Board on Wages and Industrial Relations, and the Occupational Safety and Health Advisory Board — to oversee welfare measures and provide policy guidance.

Officials also presented an implementation strategy involving creation of a dedicated Project Management Unit, deployment of block-level Shram Sahayiks, strengthening of IT infrastructure, integration with national labour portals, awareness campaigns and institutional capacity building.

To support mission-mode implementation of the Labour Codes across Jammu & Kashmir, the Labour & Employment Department has submitted a proposal of Rs 10.44 crore to the Finance Department.