Centre, states working to finalize new labour regime

West Bengal has held out against the mandatory pre-publication of draft rules

- Rhik Kundu

As of November 2025, after the Centre's announcement, only select provisions of the codes on wages and social security are in force across all states and UTs. REUTERS

(REUTERS)

The Centre and states are at various stages of rolling out rules under India’s four new labour codes, two people familiar with the matter said.

West Bengal has held out against the mandatory pre-publication of draft rules, while Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Lakshadweep remain in various stages of compliance, the people said on the condition of anonymity. West Bengal is ruled by the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Tamil Nadu by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Delhi by the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Delhi has pre-published one of the four codes—the draft rules under the Code on Social Security. It may pre-publish the remaining codes in coming months, one of the two people said.

Labour being a concurrent subject, both the Centre and each state and Union territory (UT) will need to notify the rules before a consultation window opens, and only thereafter will the code become operational in the states.