New labour codes: Andhra Labour Department invites feedback from stakeholders

Andhra Pradesh Department of Labour has invited objections, suggestions and feedback from stakeholders on implementation of the four new Labour Codes enacted by the Government of India, as part of comprehensive labour reforms.

A statement issued by the Department said the reforms were aimed at simplifying and modernising labour laws while ensuring protection of workers’ rights and promoting ease of doing business in the State.

The Government of India has consolidated 29 Central Labour Laws into four legislations — the Code on Wages, 2019; the Industrial Relations Code, 2020; the Code on Social Security, 2020, and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020.

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These Codes seek to align labour regulations with the evolving economic environment, technological advancements and changing employment patterns. Key objectives include consolidation of multiple laws into four unified Codes, introduction of single registration, single license and single return systems to reduce compliance burden, universalisation of minimum wages, strengthening of wage protection and expansion of social security coverage to unorganised, gig and platform workers.

The reforms also emphasise digitisation and web-based inspections to enhance transparency, decriminalisation and compounding of certain offences to encourage voluntary compliance, improved industrial relations through structured dispute resolution mechanisms, and strengthened occupational safety, health and welfare standards across establishments.

The Government of India published the draft rules on December 30, 2025 In line with the Centre and the Andhra Pradesh Government has issued preliminary notifications under the Industrial Relations Code, 2020 and the Code on Wages, 2019. The draft notifications are available on the official Labour Department portal.

The Department of Labour has asked employees, workers, employers, managements, trade unions, industry associations, professional bodies, civil society organisations and the general public to carefully examine the draft provisions and submit their comments by March 15, 2026, for the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, and by March 30, 2026, for the Code on Wages, 2019.

Objections and suggestions may be submitted in writing to the Commissioner of Labour, Andhra Pradesh, or through the official email address or portal specified in the notification. Officials said the representations received within the prescribed time frame will be examined before finalising the Rules.