Maharashtra To Roll Out Labour Law Reforms, Rules Due By August-End
The department is also developing a dedicated online portal through which all establishments, shops and business units will be required to register: Reports
MUMBAI: Maharashtra is set to notify rules for implementing the new labour codes by the end of August after reviewing 819 suggestions and objections received during the public consultation process, marking a significant step towards labour law reforms in the state. The Labour Department received feedback from trade unions, employers, individual citizens and civil society organisations on the draft rules. Officials said the submissions are being examined and suitable recommendations will be incorporated before the final notification is issued.
The department is also developing a dedicated online portal through which all establishments, shops and business units will be required to register, a move aimed at simplifying regulatory compliance and business operations across the state.
In April 2026, the state government published draft rules under the four labour codes — the Industrial Relations Code, 2020; the Code on Wages, 2019; the Code on Social Security, 2020; and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 — and invited objections and suggestions during a 45-day public consultation.
Officials said the draft Code on Wages Rules, 2026, attracted the highest level of engagement, with responses from 66 per cent of stakeholders. This was followed by the draft Code on Social Security Rules, 2026 (54 per cent), the draft Industrial Relations Rules, 2026 (42 per cent), and the draft Maharashtra Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (Labour) Rules, 2026 (33 per cent).
Among responses to the draft Wage Code Rules, 54 per cent came from individual citizens, 33 per cent from labour unions and 7.8 per cent from employers.
Officials said the new rules are intended to streamline employer-worker relations, bring greater clarity to wage provisions and simplify compliance for establishments while safeguarding workers’ rights. “We expect the rules to improve transparency and ensure smoother industrial operations in the state. They will simplify regulatory processes and further enhance ease of doing business in Maharashtra,” an official said.
The official added that the rules would remove ambiguities surrounding the definition of a “worker” and the determination of minimum wages.
Labour Department Principal Secretary I.A. Kundan said, “The Maharashtra state rules are expected to fulfil the objectives of the new labour laws framed by the Government of India. The labour codes aim to create not only a competitive business environment but also a fair and equitable workplace for workers.”
Once notified, the rules will pave the way for the implementation of the new labour codes across Maharashtra.
