India consolidates 29 labour laws into four labour codes: MoS

New Delhi, Jun 11, 2026 : India has undertaken wide-ranging labour reforms through consolidation of 29 Central Labour Laws into four Labour Codes to simplify compliance, strengthen workers’ welfare and create a modern and transparent labour ecosystem.

Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Shobha Karandlaje stated this while addressing the Plenary Session of the International Labour Conference (ILO) at Geneva in Switzerland yesterday. The Minister appreciated the ILO for its continued leadership in promoting social justice and decent work amidst rapidly evolving global transformations.

Ms Karandlaje laid emphasis on India’s progress in developing Digital Public Infrastructure in the labour and employment sector through the National Career Service Portal and the e-Shram Portal. She also highlighted the importance of international cooperation on skills and occupations and India’s ongoing feasibility study with the ILO on developing an international reference classification of occupations. She added that between 2017 and 2025, unemployment rate fell from 6 percent to 3.1 percent, and women’s workforce participation surged from 22 percent to 38.8 percent.

On the sidelines of the International Labour Conference the minister held bilateral meeting with the Minister of Public Service and Labour of Rwanda, Christine Nkulikiyinka, Labour Minister of Sri Lanka Anil Jayantha Fernando and Director-General of ILO Gilbert F. Houngbo.