Centre pre-publishes draft Rules for four Labour Codes, Pg16

Key Highlights:

• Draft Rules for the four Labour Codes mandate 48 hours of work per week.
• Rules address workplace measures for women working in night shifts.
• They define workers, wages, employment types, gratuity, bonus, and social security, including for gig workers.
• Public has 45 days to respond to the draft Rules.
• A National Social Security Board will be formed for unorganized sector workers.
• Establishments with 50 or more employees must provide a creche.

Detailed Insights:

• The Code on Wages incorporates 18 past Rules, including those related to minimum wages and equal remuneration.
• Minimum wage criteria include a standard working-class family, 2,700 calories per day, and allocations for housing, clothing, and education.
• The Union government will consider geographical area, experience, and skill level when fixing minimum wages.
• A technical committee will advise on skill categorization, headed by the Director-General of Employment.
• The Code on Social Security supersedes 12 prior Rules, including those related to ESI, EPF, gratuity, and unorganized workers' welfare.
• The National Social Security Board will include representatives from unorganized sector associations and gig/platform workers.
• Rules for night shifts for women include written consent, transportation, and CCTV surveillance.
• The Industrial Relations Code details trade unions' registration and classifies workers into categories like permanent, temporary, and fixed-term employment.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Labour Codes: Comprehensive laws consolidating various labour laws into simplified codes.
• Gig Workers: Individuals who perform work or participate in a work arrangement and earn from such activities outside of the traditional employer-employee relationship.
• Social Security: Measures providing monetary or other assistance to ensure a minimum standard of living.