What are Lakshadweep's rules under the Industrial Relations Code, 2020?
Jurisdiction: Lakshadweep state rules under the Industrial Relations Code, 2020.
The Union Territory of Lakshadweep notified the Industrial Relations (Lakshadweep) Rules, 2025 on 25 March 2026 under section 99(1) of the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, published in the Lakshadweep Gazette Extraordinary (Vol. LXI, No. 61) on 30 March 2026 and in force on publication. The rules govern works committees, grievance redressal, trade unions, standing orders, notice of change, arbitration, tribunals, strikes, retrenchment, closure and the re-skilling fund. This page synthesizes them; the verbatim text is on the linked /states page and the source PDF is below.
Key facts
- Parent code
- Industrial Relations Code, 2020
- Jurisdiction
- Lakshadweep (state rules)
- Notified
- 30 March 2026
- Gazette reference
- Notification F.No.08/02/2024-LE&T/73, dated 25 March 2026, Union Territory of Lakshadweep Administration, Department of Labour, Employment and Training, Kavaratti, made under section 99(1) of the Industrial Relations Code, 2020 read with the Ministry of Home Affairs delegation S.O. 273(E) dated 16 January 2023, published in the Lakshadweep Gazette Extraordinary (Vol. LXI, No. 61) on 30 March 2026
Key obligations
Scope, commencement and definitions
Source: Rules 1 to 3 (Chapter I)
The rules are titled the Industrial Relations (Lakshadweep) Rules, 2025, extend to the whole Union Territory and take effect on gazette publication.
- These rules may be called the Industrial Relations (Lakshadweep) Rules, 2025, extend to the whole of the UT of Lakshadweep, and come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette (rule 1); they are made in supersession of the corresponding rules in force in the UT, saving things done or omitted before supersession (notification header).
- A written settlement agreement before the Conciliation Officer under clause (zi) of section 2 is to be in Form-I and signed by the parties, with a copy to the Conciliation Officer (rule 3).
Works committees and grievance redressal
Source: Rules 4 to 7 (Chapter II)
The rules set the composition and working of the Works Committee and the Grievance Redressal Committee.
- A Works Committee is constituted so its total membership does not exceed twenty and the number of worker representatives is not less than that of the employer, with worker representatives drawn from registered trade unions in proportion to membership or, where none exists, chosen by the workers; office-bearers include a Chairman nominated by the employer and a Vice-Chairman elected by worker members, and members hold office for three years (rule 4).
- A Grievance Redressal Committee has an equal number of employer and worker representatives not exceeding ten in total, with adequate representation of women workers proportionate to their share of the workforce, and its tenure is co-terminus with the registered trade union or, where none exists, three years (rule 5).
- An aggrieved worker may file a grievance with the Committee within one year of the cause of action arising (rule 6), and may then apply to the Conciliation Officer within sixty days of the Committee's decision or of the expiry of the period for resolving the grievance (rule 7).
Trade unions: registration, funds and negotiation
Source: Rules 8 to 25 (Chapter III)
The rules govern trade-union subscriptions, funds and audit, registration, recognition of the negotiating union or council, amalgamation and annual returns.
- Trade-union admission subscription is rupees 100 and monthly subscription is not less than rupees 30 and not more than rupees 50 per member, funds are kept in a scheduled bank and audited annually with the auditor's declaration in Form-II (rules 8 to 9); the same subscription figures are restated at rule 21, a duplication carried through the gazette.
- An application for registration is made in Form-III with a rupees 100 fee and an affidavit in Form-IV, the Register of Trade Unions is kept in Form-V and the certificate issued in Form-VI, with cancellation or withdrawal of registration and appeals dealt with under rules 14 to 15 (rules 10 to 15).
- Where a single registered union functions in an establishment the employer recognizes it as sole negotiating union; where more than one functions, a union with fifty-one per cent or more workers on the muster roll is the sole negotiating union, failing which a negotiating council is formed from unions with at least twenty per cent support, one seat per twenty per cent (rule 18).
- The general funds of a registered union may be spent only on the listed objects, and a separate fund for civic and political purposes may be constituted from separate contributions that no member is compelled to make (rules 19 to 20).
- Amalgamation of unions requires at least half the members of each union to vote and sixty per cent of votes recorded to favour it (rule 23), a dissolved union's funds are divided in proportion to members' subscriptions (rule 24), and the annual return is filed with the Registrar in Form-II by 15 February each year (rule 25).
Standing orders
Source: Rules 26 to 35 (Chapter IV)
The rules cover adoption of model standing orders, certification, appeals, the register and the coverage threshold.
- An employer adopting the Central Government model standing order intimates the certifying officer electronically of the date of adoption, and if the certifying officer makes no observation within thirty days the standing order is deemed adopted (rule 26).
- Where there is no trade union, the certifying officer calls a meeting of workers to choose three representatives and forwards the draft for objections within fifteen days (rule 27); certified standing orders are authenticated and sent electronically within a week (rule 28).
- An appeal against the certifying officer's order is filed within sixty days as a tabular memorandum, and the appellate authority disposes of it within sixty days after hearing the parties (rule 31).
- The certified text is maintained by the employer in Hindi, English or Malayalam (rule 32), the certifying officer keeps an electronic register of all certified and deemed-certified standing orders (rule 33), and modification applications are made electronically in tabular form (rule 34).
- The chapter does not apply to establishments employing fewer than 500 workers on any day of the preceding twelve months (rule 35).
Notice of change, arbitration and dispute resolution
Source: Rules 36 to 42 (Chapters V to VII)
The rules set the notice of change, voluntary reference to arbitration and the tribunal and conciliation machinery.
- An employer intending to change conditions of service on a matter in the Third Schedule gives notice in Form-VII to the affected worker and displays it conspicuously, with a copy to the secretary of any registered trade union (rule 36).
- A voluntary arbitration agreement is in Form-VIII signed by the parties and accompanied by the arbitrator's consent, and where the reference represents the majority of each party the UT publishes a notification so non-parties may present their case (rules 37 to 38); where there is no trade union, workers choose their representative by resolution in Form-IX (rule 39).
- The terms and qualifications for the Judicial and Administrative Members of the Tribunal are set by rules 40 to 41, and the manner of holding conciliation proceedings and reporting under section 53 is set by rule 42.
Strikes, lock-outs, lay-off, retrenchment and closure
Source: Rules 43 to 54 (Chapters VIII to X)
The rules set the notices and permission applications for strikes, lock-outs, retrenchment, closure and lay-off.
- A strike notice is given to the employer in Form-XII signed by the union President or General Secretary and five elected representatives, and a lock-out notice by the employer in Form-XIII, each copied to the conciliation officer and the Secretary (Labour); on receiving a strike or giving a lock-out notice the employer intimates those officers within five days (rules 43 to 44).
- Retrenchment of a worker with at least one year of continuous service requires notice in Form-XIV to the UT Administration and the Secretary (Labour) (rule 45), retrenched workers get a fifteen-day prior offer of re-employment for one year (rule 46), and intended closure requires notice in Form-XIV (rule 47).
- For establishments to which the special provisions apply, prior permission for lay-off, retrenchment or closure is sought from the UT Administration in Form-XV, with copies served on workers, closure applications made at least ninety days in advance, and the UT empowered to review its permission order within thirty days (rules 48 to 54).
Worker re-skilling fund, offences and miscellaneous
Source: Rules 55 to 59 (Chapters XI to XIII)
The rules set the re-skilling contribution, the compounding of offences and the manner of worker complaints and representation.
- On retrenching a worker the employer transfers, within ten days, an amount equal to fifteen days of the worker's last drawn wages to the UT-maintained account, which the UT credits to the worker within forty-five days of receipt (rule 55).
- For holding an enquiry the appropriate Government may appoint an officer not below the rank of Under Secretary to the Government of India or equivalent (rule 56), and a compounding officer notified under section 89 issues a three-part notice in Form-XVI, the accused paying the compounding amount within fifteen days (rule 57).
- A worker's complaint under section 91 is made electronically and by post in Form-XVII with copies for each opposite party and verified by the worker or an authorized representative (rule 58), and rule 59 sets how a worker who is not a union member may be represented in proceedings.
Frequently asked questions
Official gazette PDF
Notification F.No.08/02/2024-LE&T/73, dated 25 March 2026, Union Territory of Lakshadweep Administration, Department of Labour, Employment and Training, Kavaratti, made under section 99(1) of the Industrial Relations Code, 2020 read with the Ministry of Home Affairs delegation S.O. 273(E) dated 16 January 2023, published in the Lakshadweep Gazette Extraordinary (Vol. LXI, No. 61) on 30 March 2026