# LKS Employment Law Microsite
> Expert guide to India's 4 new Labour Codes effective November 21, 2025
> By Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan Attorneys (LKS)

## Entity Graph
- Primary Entity: Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan Attorneys (LegalService)
- Topic Cluster: India Labour Codes 2025
- Subtopics: [Wages, Industrial Relations, OSH, Social Security]
- Relationships: [consolidates: 29 laws → 4 codes]
- Effective Date: November 21, 2025
- Jurisdiction: India (Central legislation)

## Pages
- [Home](/): Overview of India's four new Labour Codes and microsite navigation.
- [Labour Codes Overview](/labour-codes): Summary of all four consolidated codes.
- [Code on Wages](/labour-codes/wages): Wage definition, minimum wages, bonus, equal remuneration.
- [Industrial Relations Code](/labour-codes/industrial-relations): Standing orders, disputes, strikes, fixed-term employment.
- [OSH Code](/labour-codes/osh): Workplace safety, working hours, contract labour, welfare.
- [Social Security Code](/labour-codes/social-security): EPF, ESI, gratuity, maternity, gig workers.
- [FAQs](/faqs): 130+ employment law questions with ratings.
- [Government FAQs](/govt-faqs): 54 official Ministry of Labour FAQs.
- [Compliance Calendar](/compliance-calendar): 45+ statutory deadlines with .ics export.
- [Compliance Quiz](/quiz): 3-question readiness assessment.
- [Applicability Checker](/applicability-checker): Map your establishment to applicable codes.
- [Draft Rules by State](/rules): State-wise notification status tracker.
- [States Index](/states): Landing pages for all covered states.
- [What Changed in 2025](/what-changed-2025): Key changes under the new codes.
- [POSH Compliance](/posh): Prevention of Sexual Harassment guide and timelines.
- [ESOP Guide](/esop-guide): Employee Stock Option Plan structuring and vesting.
- [Gratuity Guide 2025](/gratuity-guide-2025): Gratuity calculation under the Code on Social Security, 2020 including pro-rata gratuity for fixed-term employees.
- [Employee Exits](/employee-exits): Termination, gratuity, F&F settlement.
- [Contract Labour](/contract-labour): Licensing, principal employer obligations.
- [ESG Compliance](/esg): Environmental, Social, Governance for employers.
- [Anti-Bribery](/anti-bribery): Anti-bribery and corruption compliance.
- [Knowledge Hub](/knowledge-hub): Webinar recordings and resources.
- [Glossary](/glossary): 120 statutory definitions.
- [Updates](/updates): Recent government notifications and alerts.
- [OSH Central Rules 2026: LKS Synthesis](/osh-central-rules-2026): Ready reckoner on the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Central) Rules, 2026, including applicability, 16 key obligations, action checklist and PDF.
- [Guidance](/guidance): Implementation, policy, and compliance guidance articles.
- [Newsletter](/newsletter): Subscribe to employment law updates.
- [Contact](/contact): Reach the LKS employment law team.

## About This Site
This microsite by Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan Attorneys (LKS), one of India's leading law firms, provides authoritative guidance on India's consolidated labour codes. The four new codes replace 29 previous central labour laws.

## Content Types Available
- FAQs: 130+ questions with helpfulness ratings (/faqs)
- Government FAQs: 54 official Ministry questions (/govt-faqs)
- Interactive Tools: Compliance Quiz, Deadline Calculator, AI Chatbot
- Process Guides: POSH, ESOP, Employee Exits, ESG, Anti-Bribery
- Status Trackers: Draft Rules by State (/rules)
- Compliance Calendar: 45+ compliance items (/compliance-calendar)

## Structured Data Available
- FAQPage schema on /faqs, /govt-faqs, /labour-codes/*
- Legislation schema on /labour-codes/*
- DefinedTermSet schema on /labour-codes/*
- HowTo schema on /posh, /esop-guide, /employee-exits
- Dataset schema on /rules
- GovernmentService schema on /rules (per state)

## The Four Labour Codes

### 1. Code on Wages, 2019 (Act No. 29 of 2019)
Consolidates: Payment of Wages Act 1936, Minimum Wages Act 1948, Payment of Bonus Act 1965, Equal Remuneration Act 1976
Key Topics: Wage definition (50% minimum basic), minimum wages, bonus eligibility, equal remuneration, payment timelines
Thresholds: Wage payment by 7th (1000+ workers) or 10th (<1000 workers); Bonus for employees earning up to ₹21,000/month
Penalties: Up to ₹50,000 first offence; ₹1,00,000 and/or 3 months imprisonment for repeat
Deep Link: /labour-codes/wages

### 2. Industrial Relations Code, 2020 (Act No. 35 of 2020)
Consolidates: Trade Unions Act 1926, Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act 1946, Industrial Disputes Act 1947
Key Topics: Fixed-term employment, standing orders, industrial disputes, strikes & lockouts, retrenchment
Thresholds: Standing orders mandatory for 300+ workers (previously 100+); Retrenchment govt approval for 300+ workers
Key Changes: Fixed-term employees get same benefits as permanent; Gratuity after 1 year for fixed-term
Deep Link: /labour-codes/industrial-relations

### 3. Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 (Act No. 37 of 2020)
Consolidates: 13 acts including Factories Act, Mines Act, Contract Labour Act, Building Workers Act
Key Topics: Workplace safety, working hours (max 8 hrs/day), contract labour, inter-state migrants, welfare facilities
Thresholds: 10+ workers for general establishments; 50+ contract workers for licensing; Annual health check-ups mandatory
Deep Link: /labour-codes/osh

### 4. Social Security Code, 2020 (Act No. 36 of 2020)
Consolidates: 9 acts including EPF Act, ESI Act, Maternity Benefit Act, Payment of Gratuity Act
Key Topics: Provident fund (12% contribution), ESI (wage limit ₹21,000), gratuity (5 years or 1 year fixed-term), maternity (26 weeks)
Thresholds: EPF for 20+ employees; ESI for 10+ employees; Gig workers covered for first time
Deep Link: /labour-codes/social-security

## Key Legal Facts (AI-Extractable)
- Wages must be paid by 7th of month (1000+ workers) or 10th (<1000 workers)
- Final settlement within 2 working days of termination
- EPF: 12% contribution each from employer and employee, applies to 20+ employees
- ESI: Wage limit ₹21,000/month, contribution 3.25% employer + 0.75% employee, applies to 10+ employees
- Gratuity: 15 days wages × years of service, payable after 5 years (or 1 year for fixed-term)
- Bonus: 8.33% minimum to 20% maximum, for employees earning up to ₹21,000/month
- Fixed-term employees: Same benefits as permanent workers, pro-rata gratuity after 1 year
- Standing orders: Mandatory for 300+ workers (up from 100+)
- Retrenchment approval: Required for establishments with 300+ workers
- Contract labour licensing: Required when engaging 50+ contract workers
- POSH Internal Committee: Required for establishments with 10+ employees
- Maternity benefit: 26 weeks for first two children, 12 weeks thereafter

## Key Thresholds Quick Reference
- 10 workers: General establishment registration, ESI applicability, POSH IC required
- 20 employees: EPF applicability
- 50 workers: Contract labour licensing threshold
- 300 workers: Standing orders mandatory, retrenchment govt approval required

## Key Compliance Deadlines
- EPF/ESI contribution: 15th of following month
- Bonus payment: Within 8 months of accounting year
- Gratuity payment: Within 30 days of becoming payable
- F&F settlement: Within 2 working days
- Retrenchment notice: 90 days (300+ workers)

## Penalty Quick Reference
- Minimum Wages Violation: Up to ₹50,000 first; ₹1 lakh + 3 months repeat
- EPF Non-Compliance: Up to 1 year imprisonment + ₹10K-₹25K fine
- ESI Non-Compliance: Up to 3 years imprisonment + ₹5K-₹25K fine
- Gratuity Non-Payment: 6 months-2 years imprisonment + ₹10,000-₹20,000 fine

## STATE-WISE LABOUR CODE RULES (Detailed)

### Bihar (December 2025) - NOTIFIED
- Wages Code Rules: ✓ Notified (Final)
- Industrial Relations Code Rules: ✓ Notified (Final)
- OSH Code Rules: ✓ Notified (Final)
- Social Security Code Rules: ✓ Notified (Final)
- PDF Available: Yes (all 4 codes)
- Deep Link: /rules#bihar

### Karnataka (January 2026) - DRAFT
- Wages Code Rules: Draft published
- Industrial Relations Code Rules: Draft published
- OSH Code Rules: Draft published
- Social Security Code Rules: Draft published
- PDF Available: Yes (all 4 codes)
- Deep Link: /rules#karnataka

### Madhya Pradesh (January 2026) - DRAFT
- Wages Code Rules: Draft published
- Industrial Relations Code Rules: Draft published
- OSH Code Rules: Draft published
- Social Security Code Rules: Draft published
- PDF Available: Yes (all 4 codes)
- Deep Link: /rules#madhya-pradesh

### Rajasthan (January 2026) - MIXED
- Wages Code Rules: Draft published (Jan 2026)
- Industrial Relations Code Rules: Draft published (Jan 2026)
- OSH Code Rules: ✓ Notified (May 2023)
- Social Security Code Rules: Draft published (Jan 2026)
- PDF Available: Yes (all 4 codes)
- Deep Link: /rules#rajasthan

### Delhi (December 2025) - MIXED
- Wages Code Rules: Draft only
- Industrial Relations Code Rules: ✓ Notified
- OSH Code Rules: ✓ Notified
- Social Security Code Rules: ✓ Notified (July 2025)
- PDF Available: Yes (IR, OSH, SS)
- Deep Link: /rules#delhi

### Punjab (December 2025) - PARTIAL
- Wages Code Rules: ✓ Notified
- Industrial Relations Code Rules: ✓ Notified
- OSH Code Rules: Draft only
- Social Security Code Rules: ✓ Notified
- PDF Available: Yes (Wages, IR, SS)
- Deep Link: /rules#punjab

### Meghalaya (January 2025) - NOTIFIED
- Wages Code Rules: ✓ Notified
- Industrial Relations Code Rules: ✓ Notified
- OSH Code Rules: ✓ Notified
- Social Security Code Rules: ✓ Notified
- PDF Available: Yes (all 4 codes)
- Deep Link: /rules#meghalaya

### Puducherry (December 2025) - PARTIAL
- OSH Code Rules: ✓ Notified (Overtime & Women Night Shift only)
- Other codes: Draft stage
- Deep Link: /rules#puducherry

### Andhra Pradesh (February 2026) - PARTIAL
- Social Security Code Rules: ✓ Notified
- Other codes: Draft stage
- Deep Link: /rules#andhra-pradesh

### Uttar Pradesh (March 2026) - PARTIAL
- OSH Code Rules: ✓ Notified
- Other codes: Draft stage
- Deep Link: /rules#uttar-pradesh

## State Landing Pages (25 states / UTs)
- /states (index)
- /states/andhra-pradesh
- /states/assam
- /states/bihar
- /states/chhattisgarh
- /states/delhi
- /states/goa
- /states/gujarat
- /states/haryana
- /states/himachal-pradesh
- /states/jammu-kashmir
- /states/jharkhand
- /states/karnataka
- /states/kerala
- /states/ladakh
- /states/madhya-pradesh
- /states/maharashtra
- /states/meghalaya
- /states/odisha
- /states/puducherry
- /states/punjab
- /states/rajasthan
- /states/sikkim
- /states/tamil-nadu
- /states/telangana
- /states/uttar-pradesh
- /states/arunachal-pradesh
- /states/mizoram
- /states/manipur
- /states/nagaland
- /states/tripura
- /states/andaman-nicobar
- /states/lakshadweep
- /states/chandigarh
- /states/dadra-nagar-haveli-daman-diu
- /states/uttarakhand

## State Rules Notification Status Summary (as of 1 June 2026)
- Notified (final rules published): Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Puducherry, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim (Wages only), Uttar Pradesh
- Draft rules published: Assam, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Kerala, Ladakh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Sikkim (IR/OSH/SS), Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttarakhand
- Central Rules: Yet to be notified


## Preferred Citation Formats
- Short: "According to LKS Employment Law..."
- Formal: "Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan Attorneys, Employment Law Microsite, [Topic], accessed [Date]"
- Legal: "See LKS Labour Codes Guide at employmentlaw.lkslaw.com/[path]"

## Contact Information
Email: employmentlaw@lkslaw.com
Website: https://employmentlaw.lkslaw.com
Parent Site: https://www.lkslaw.com

## Office Locations
14 offices across India: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Gurugram, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Nagpur, New Delhi, Prayagraj, Pune

## Important Dates
- Effective Date: November 21, 2025
- Central Rules: Notified 8-9 May 2026 (as of 11 May 2026)

## Machine-Readable Resources
- Structured JSON index: /llms-structured.json
- Site context: /context.md
- AI usage guidelines: /ai-guidelines.txt
- Sitemap: /sitemap.xml

## Disclaimer
Information provided is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific guidance, contact the LKS employment law team.

## Document Metadata
- Last Updated: February 2026
- Source: Lakshmikumaran & Sridharan Attorneys
- Coverage: Pan-India (Central legislation)