Andhra Pradesh Labour Department invites feedback on new labour codes

Andhra Pradesh Labor Department has sought objections, suggestions and feedback from stakeholders on the implementation of four new Labor Laws introduced by the Government of India as part of comprehensive labor reforms.

The reforms aim to simplify and modernize labor laws while ensuring the protection of workers’ rights and promoting ease of doing business in the state, a statement issued by the ministry said.

The Government of India has consolidated 29 Central Labor Laws into four legislations: Wages Act, 2019; Industrial Relations Act, 2020; Social Security Law, 2020 and Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Law, 2020.

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These Code aim to align working arrangements with the evolving economic environment, technological advances and changing employment patterns. Key objectives include consolidating multiple laws into four unified Rules, introducing single registration, single license and single return systems to reduce the compliance burden, universalizing minimum wages, strengthening wage protection and extending social security coverage to unorganized, gig and platform workers.

The reforms also emphasize digitalization and web-based audits to increase transparency, decriminalization and consolidation of certain offenses to encourage voluntary compliance, improving industrial relations through structured dispute resolution mechanisms, and strengthening occupational safety, health and welfare standards across organisations.

The Government of India published the draft rules on December 30, 2025. In line with the Center and Government of Andhra Pradesh, it has issued preliminary notifications under the Industrial Relations Act, 2020 and Wages Act, 2019. The draft notifications are available on the official Labor Department portal.

The Ministry of Labor has asked employees, workers, employers, managements, trade unions, industry associations, professional bodies, non-governmental organizations and the general public to carefully review the draft provisions and submit their comments by 15 March 2026 for the Industrial Relations Code (2020) and 30 March 2026 for the Wages Code (2019).

Objections and suggestions can be submitted in writing to the Labor Commissioner of Andhra Pradesh or through the official email address or portal mentioned in the notification. Officials said representations received within the stipulated time period will be reviewed before the Rules are finalized.