By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
The centre has notified the four landmark Labour Codes marking the most significant reforms consolidating 29 fragmented central labour laws into a unified framework designed to enhance worker welfare, simplify compliance, a top official said on Wednesday.
Addressing an interactive CII session in Dehradun, Anil Petwal, Additional Labour Commissioner, Uttarakhand apprised the Council on the Four New Labour Codes notified on Nov 21 last year. Code on Wages, 2019 which Universalizes minimum wages and ensures timely payment for all workers. Industrial Relations Code, 2020 for Modernizing employer-employee relations and streamlines dispute resolution. Code on Social Security, 2020 which Expands social protection to gig, platform, and unorganized workers and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 that sets Standards for workplace safety and health across sectors.
He further elaborated on the key changes, some of them being, Employees with a salary up to Rs.18,000/- will fall under the category of worker. An employee can raise an industrial dispute with the employer within the time limit of only 2 years instead of 3 years. Trade Unions have to give notice 14 days before going on strike, Establishment with less than 300 workmen can lay off, retrench, or close without government approval, earlier this limit was 100 employees, new category of workers added like gig workers, platform workers.
Suyash Agrawal, Chairman, CII Uttarakhand appreciated the steps taken by the State Government on the implementation of the code. He said, Key reforms such as universal minimum wages, time-bound wage payments and wider ESIC–EPFO coverage were expected to enhance worker welfare and bring India closer to global standards.
Sanjay Agarwal, Vice Chairman, CII Uttarakhand commented that by simplifying and updating our labour laws, the Government took a decisive step towards a more productive, fair and future ready workforce and that the Labour Codes were an important reform that balances the needs of industry and employees.
The Session was attended by around 30 Industry members of CII Uttarakhand.