The New Labour Codes In India: A Paradigm Shift Or A Mere Formality?

Abstract

India, with its colonial past and post-independence socio-economic fabric, has always navigated the complex waters of labour reforms. Straddling the dual responsibilities of ensuring worker rights and fostering an environment conducive to business growth has been an arduous task. To decode the significance of these reforms, a brief journey into the past is essential. In the aftermath of independence, India, as a fledgling democracy with socialist underpinnings, sought to establish a legal framework that would protect its vast workforce. The government’s solution to this jigsaw puzzle of regulations was to distill them into four essential codes. To truly understand the depth and potential of India's labour reforms, it's essential to look towards countries that have successfully balanced worker rights with business-friendly regulations. The new labour codes in India undeniably mark a significant step in the nation's labour reform journey. They aim to strike a balance between the rights of the workers and the aspirations of the employers.