New Labour Laws: India’s labour rules are going through one of their biggest shake-ups in years, and workers across different sectors are slowly trying to understand what exactly has changed for them. In a recent post, the EPFO said the idea behind the reforms is simple: make wages fair, make payments on time, strengthen the social safety net, improve workplace conditions, and ensure that workers aren’t pushed past their limits with long hours or unsafe environments. The post also mentioned wider accident and health-related benefits.
Accident & Social Security Benefits Strengthened
One of the bigger changes sits inside the Social Security Code. Certain commuting accidents , the kind that happen while travelling to or from work under set conditions , may now be counted as employment-related. That means workers injured along approved routes might qualify for compensation. This is new, and it goes well beyond the usual “workplace only” safety net that existed earlier.
Workplace Safety Standards Upgraded
The government has pushed updated safety norms too. These are meant to standardise occupational health and safety practices across sectors, especially in places where risks are higher , such as mines, construction sites, large factories and similar setups.
For mine workers, the reforms underline clearer safety guidelines, tighter checks on hazards and stronger requirements for employers to follow the rules. Policymakers say this should help cut down accidents and improve overall working conditions for people in physically demanding jobs.
Health Check-Ups and Medical Support
A new provision requires free annual health check-ups for workers in identified sectors. The thinking behind this is straightforward: detect long-term or slow-building illnesses early and reduce medical expenses that workers often struggle to pay out of pocket.
Working Hours Regulation
The Labour Codes also formalise how long someone can be asked to work. The new limits are:
- 8 to 12 hours a day
- 48 hours a week
Officials say this is aimed at preventing misuse of long shifts and bringing work-life balance closer to accepted global standards. States can set their own detailed rules, but they cannot exceed these limits.
Wages and Payments Made More Uniform
New Labour Laws: Another part of the reform deals with how wages are calculated. A uniform definition of “wages” is now being used so that PF, gratuity and overtime calculations stay consistent across states and industries. The government claims this will reduce disputes and make sure workers get their dues without confusion.
these changes mark a noticeable shift in how rights, safety and benefits will be handled going forward.
