Central Government notifies Central Rules under India’s Labour Codes

On May 8 and 9, 2026, the Central Government published notifications in the Official Gazette finalizing the rules under the four Labour Codes and bringing them into effect for establishments where the Central Government is the appropriate government.

The four rules notified are:

1. the Code on Wages (Central) Rules, 2026 under the Code on Wages, 2019 (Wage Code);

2. the Social Security (Central) Rules, 2026 under the Code on Social Security, 2020 (SS Code);

3. the Industrial Relations (Central) Rules, 2026 under the Industrial Relations Code, 2020 (IR Code); and

4. the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Central) Rules, 2026 under the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 (OSH Code), (collectively, Central Rules)

Key highlights of the Central Rules and related notifications are outlined below:

• Rules under the Wage Code: The Code on Wages (Central) Rules, 2026 (Wage Rules) establish mechanisms for fixing minimum wages, including the manner of fixing the floor wage; prescribe working hours and rest periods; regulate deductions and penalties; introduce procedures for compounding of offences; and impose obligations on principal employers in case of a contractor’s default in paying minimum bonus to contract labour.

• Rules under SS Code: The Social Security (Central) Rules, 2026 (SS Rules) introduce detailed requirements relating to contributions, benefits, reporting and administration, including mandatory vacancy reporting within prescribed timelines, and provide for administrative structures and enforcement mechanisms. 

• Rules under IR Code: The Industrial Relations (Central) Rules, 2026 (IR Rules) provide procedures for works committees, grievance redressal, conciliation proceedings, strikes and lockouts, and retrenchment. The rules introduce Model Standing Orders, 2026 for the mining, manufacturing and service sectors, superseding the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Central Rules, 1946 to the extent they relate to model standing orders. The IR Rules also operationalise the Worker Re-skilling Fund and formalise processes for notices of change and the appointment of authorities under the IR Code. 

• Rules under Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020: The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Central) Rules, 2026 (OSH Rules) streamline registration, prescribe standardised appointment letter formats, codify working hour limits and overtime rules, set health, safety and welfare standards, introduce electronic wage slips and record-keeping obligations, establish conditions for employing women in night shifts, and require a single licence for contractors operating in more than one State or in the whole of India. 

• Applicability: The Central Rules apply only where the Central Government is the ‘appropriate government’. This typically includes public sector undertakings, railways, mines, ports, and banking and insurance. In case of the SS Rules, it also includes establishments having a presence in multiple States. For other establishments, the relevant State Government rules will apply, and employers will need to assess the applicable framework on an establishment-specific basis. 

• Other key notifications: The Central Government has also notified or issued supporting measures under the Central Rules, including the appointment of certifying officers, conciliation officers and appellate authorities, the setting up of the Worker Re-skilling Fund, simple interest at 12% per annum on delayed contributions and other amounts payable under the SS Code and the appointment of Inspector-cum-Facilitators.

Conclusion:

The notification of the Central Rules represents a significant milestone in India’s labour law reform journey. Businesses operating in establishments where the Central Government is the appropriate government should undertake a comprehensive review of their compliance frameworks to ensure readiness for the new regime. State-level rules are expected to follow,