Centre, States Equal Partners in Labour Code Rollout: Mandaviya:
Union Minister Inaugurates 5th Regional Conference on Labour Codes in Delhi
- 5th Regional Conference on Labour Codes begins at EPFO HQ
- Minister calls for strong Centre–State coordination
- Labour reforms praised by ILO, ISSA and global publications
- Focus on IT systems, e-Shram portal and compliance framework
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 28th Feb: Union Minister for Labour & Employment and Youth Affairs & Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, inaugurated the fifth two-day Regional Conference with States and Union Territories on Labour Codes at the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) Headquarters in New Delhi.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Mandaviya stressed that in India’s federal structure, the Centre and States are equal partners and must work together for the effective implementation of the four Labour Codes enacted in 2019 and 2020. He noted that the Codes, brought into effect on November 21, 2025, aim to align India’s labour ecosystem with global benchmarks and guidelines of bodies such as the International Labour Organization (ILO).
The Minister said India’s labour reforms have received international recognition from the ILO and the International Social Security Association (ISSA), and have also been acknowledged by leading global publications including The Economist and The Financial Times for strengthening worker security and modernising the workforce.
Highlighting the importance of coordination, Dr. Mandaviya urged States to seek support from the Centre, particularly in building robust IT infrastructure. He called for strengthening the e-Shram portal to enhance delivery of benefits to unorganised workers and emphasised close cooperation between the Central Labour Commissioners and State labour departments.
The conference was attended by Ms. Vandana Gurnani, Secretary, Ministry of Labour & Employment, senior officials from the Ministry, and representatives from ten States and UTs including Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Sikkim, Nagaland, Uttarakhand and Delhi. Officials from EPFO, Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), and VV Giri National Labour Institute (VVGNLI) were also present.
In her remarks, Ms. Gurnani described November 21 as a historic milestone in labour reform and urged States to finalise Rules under the Codes. She highlighted key provisions such as universalisation of minimum wages and social security, mandatory appointment letters and annual health check-ups for workers. A Compliance Handbook and FAQs have been released to simplify understanding for industries, she added.
The conference featured detailed presentations on progress in framing Rules, IT preparedness and statutory notifications. Discussions focused on institutional mechanisms, digital platforms, capacity building of field officials and awareness generation among stakeholders to ensure seamless implementation of the Labour Codes.
