Labour reforms for Atmanirbhar Bharat

The new labour codes establish a modern framework that demonstrates India’s readiness to meet the demands of a dynamic and rapidly evolving global economy

- Mansukh Mandaviya

For decades, India struggled with weak economic growth, entrenched corruption, and a chronic absence of commitment to job creation and workers’ welfare.

Politically motivated gheraos and bandhs repeatedly disrupted industrial activity, stalling investments and eroding trust in the system. It is a shame that previous governments reduced labour welfare to mere slogans, failing to address the real issues faced by workers with seriousness.

It took a fundamental shift in national leadership to break this inertia. From the ramparts of the Red Fort, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi invoked “Shramev Jayate” (labour alone triumphs), declaring that the dignity of labour must stand at the centre of India’s development journey. This was not just a slogan, it marked the beginning of a new national consciousness that placed workers at the heart of policymaking.

The need for such a shift was long overdue. Much of India’s labour law architecture traces back to the 1920s-1950s and was shaped by a colonial mindset. Meanwhile, the world of work changed dramatically. The rise of gig and platform economies, digitalisa-tion, flexible work structures, and new-age enterprises reshaped global labour systems. Yet India’s labour laws remained frozen in time, unable to support a modern workforce or a competitive economy. Through his