Fresh draft on Industrial Relations (Central) Rules, 2025 published by Ministry of Labour; invites comments by 28th January 2026

The Ministry of Labour and Employment has published a fresh draft of Industrial Relations (Central) Rules, 2025 (“Draft Rules”) under the recently notified Industrial Relations Code, 2020 (“Code”).

Objections and suggestions, if any, may be sent to Shri Govind Ram, Deputy Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Labour and Employment, IR(PL) Section, Room No. 306, Shram Shakti Bhawan, Rafi Marg, New Delhi-110001 or by email – irpl-mole@gov.in by 28^th January 2026. The objections and suggestions should be sent in a proforma containing columns specifying:

i) name and address of the person/organization and column

ii) rule or sub-rule which is proposed to be modified and column

iii) revised rule or sub-rule proposed to be substituted and reasons therefore

Important provisions introduced in the new Draft Rules:

1. In case there are women workers employed in an Industrial establishment, the employer must ensure that the Works Committee has an adequate representation of women workers and such representation shall not be less than the proportion of women workers to the total workers employed in the industrial establishment.

2. The employer are required to submit the details of the constitution and the functioning of the Committee as a part of unified annual return under the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Condition Code, 20202

3. A new Chapter has been inserted on Trade Unions outlining their functions/procedures.

4. With respect to retrenchment of workers, where no notice was given to the worker and he was paid one month‘s wages in lieu thereof, the employer must send a notice of retrenchment within three days from the date on which such wages are paid, to the Deputy Chief Labour Commissioner.

5. With respect to re-employment of retrenched workers, the employers will have to prepare a list of all workers in the particular category from which retrenchment is contemplated, arranged according to the seniority of their service in that category display a copy thereof on a notice board in a conspicuous place in the premises of the industrial establishment at least 7 days before the actual date of retrenchment.

Key provisions retained in the new Draft Rules:

1. The Draft Rules have been introduced in supersession of the Industrial Disputes (Central) Rules, 1957 and Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Central Rules, 1946.

2. Provisions mandating written agreements between employers and workers for dispute settlements, to be submitted to Conciliation Officers on prescribed forms.

3. Constitution of Works Committees within industrial establishments including representation from both employers and workers.

4. Establishment and procedures of Grievance Redressal Committees including the nomination or selection of members, tenure, grievance filing, and escalation mechanisms.

5. Detailed provisions related to Standing Orders, including filing, certification, modification, appeal, and maintenance processes.

6. Mechanisms for dispute resolution by conciliation, arbitration, and adjudication through specified authorities and tribunals.

7. Procedures for strikes, lockouts, layoffs, retrenchment, and closure.

8. Introduction of a Workers’ Reskilling Fund which is proposed to be funded by employer contributions.

9. Specification of offences, penalties, and the procedure for Compounding of Offences.

Source: Ministry of Labour and Employment