Notification of Central Rules 2026 under the Labour Codes
- May 8, 2026
- Posted by: AscentHR
- Categories: India (All States), Notification
The Central Government has published the final Rules under the Labour Codes on 8th May 2026.
Following the release of draft Rules pertaining to the four Labour Codes in December 2025, the Central Government has now officially notified the Central Rules for all four Labour Codes. These central rules will come into effect on 8th May 2026, coinciding with the date of their publication.
As you may know, the four Labour Codes, namely 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, were implemented starting from 21st November 2025. Although the principal 29 enactments have been consolidated and repealed, the schemes framed under the Employees’ Provident Funds and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 (EPF Act), and the Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948 (ESI Act), will remain in effect in their current form until the relevant schemes are developed and announced under the Code on Social Security, 2020, ensuring that social security benefits continue without interruption.
While the Central Rules are now established, these reforms necessitate complementary implementation by state governments, given that labour is a concurrent subject.
Nevertheless, these Central Rules will apply to any establishment for which the Central Government is the appropriate authority.
Please refer below to the summary of the Central Rules as well as the official Gazette notification:
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