Lok Sabha Passes Industrial Relations Code (Amendment) Bill, 2026

New Delhi: Amid allegations from the Opposition of favouring industrialists, Lok Sabha on Thursday passed Industrial Relations Code (Amendment) Bill, 2026.

The Bill seeks to amend the Industrial Relations Code, 2020 to avoid any future “unwarranted complication” over the continuity of three laws, which was replaced by the Industrial Relations Code of 2020. These are the Trade Unions Act, 1926, the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946 and the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, relating to trade unions, industrial employment and industrial disputes.

The Bill was debated and passed on a day when workers across sectors held a nation wide strike against the alleged "anti-worker, anti-farmer and anti-national pro-corporate policies of the central government."

While moving the Bill, Union Minister for Labour and Employment Mansukh Mandaviya underscored the Centre’s intent to remove any scope for legal ambiguity regarding the continuity and repeal of the earlier enactments.

Terming the Bill `anti-labour’ the Opposition accused the government of favouring industrialists over workers while drafting the industrial relations code, even snatching away their right to protest for demands. They sought its complete withdrawal. The treasury benches, however, termed it a `historic reform.’

Initiating the discussion Congress member K. Suresh from Kerala lambasted the Union Government and alleged that it had systematically weakened the labour movement in the country. He said his party backed the strike called on Thursday by some labour unions against the policies of the Central Government. Mr Suresh, a former Union Minister of State for Labour, said the strike call given by workers on Thursday was a "warning signal" and reflected the government's policy failure in dealing with the labour force. He added that the new law mandates workers to give a 14-day notice before going on strike.

Trinamool Congress member Kalyan Banerjee delivered a fiery speech and drew attention to the plight of Contract workers who receive no gratuity nor provident fund. He said the workers would vote against the Government when polls are held. Afzal Ansari of the Samajwadi Party from UP and Arvind Sawant of the SS-UBT from Maharashtra also criticised the policies of the Union Government. Mr. Sawant pointed out how even well-known corporate are terminating the services of employees resulting in shock and distress among the people.

"This amendment is a cover-up of the law's shortcomings,” said Mr Ansari, adding there is no safety for labourers in India.

Opposing it RSP MP N. K. Premachandran said it will take away the basic democratic rights of the labourers. Chandra Shekhar Aazad of the Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) opposed the Bill and claimed that it will encourage the companies to adopt the "hire and fire policy".

NCP member Supriya Sule said the government is working against the hardworking labourers, farmers and poor and urged the government to

rethink.

BJP MP Darshan Singh Chaudhary said that the Bill will safeguard the interests of workers in the country and help facilitate ease of doing business for industries. Kaushalendra Kumar of the JD(U), an NDA ally, said it is a labour-friendly initiative of the Narendra Modi government and a positive approach towards the welfare of the employees.

Earlier in the day, the House was adjourned shortly after 11 am till noon after Opposition members displayed placards and shouted slogans against the Government. When the House convened for the day at 11 am, LS member Krishna Prasad Tenneti who was in the Chair urged the Opposition members who were in the Well of the House to “go back to their chairs” for the Question Hour and even pointed out that a Congress lady MP from Karnataka had stood up and asked a question. But when the Opposition did not relent, the House was adjourned till noon.